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Published on November 20, 2007

Burma said yesterday it would join the nine other members at the 13th Asean summit in signing the Asean Charter, which will give birth to a human rights body to protect basic rights in member countries.

Burma has been the centre of international condemnation after a military crackdown on massive protests in September that, according to the government, killed at least 15 people including a Japanese journalist.

"We have discussed the Asean charter, not other issues, and we will sign the charter," Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win told reporters after a breakfast meeting with Asean colleagues.

In fact, the Asean leaders had little to discuss as the charter was drawn up by a High Level Task Force and all countries have agreed in advance to endorse it.

All the leaders need to do is to sign it today and wait for member states to ratify it - expected to happen within the next year.

"We hope we can celebrate the charter during the summit next year in Bangkok, where Asean was born," said Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

The major concern for the Asean leaders is Burma. Nitya said they would take a common position on how to "engage" the military-ruled country in order to carry the matter forward.

Asean has subscribed to an approach of engagement toward its troubled member, rather than the pressure and sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.

"Asean is master of its own house. Asean comprises 10 members. No one is leaving. There is no reason why anyone is going to be discussing the question of anybody exiting Asean," Nitya told reporters.

Punishment or suspending Burma for suppressing human rights were not options, he said.

"When we have the charter signed, coming into force would be a mechanism that will be discussed with regard to, let's say, various non-compliance," he added.

Singapore as the Asean chair invited United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari for a briefing on the situation and his mission to push Burma torward national reconciliation and democracy.

Gambari will be in Singapore on today but Asean leaders have no consensus on whether to allow Burma to attend the briefing, or whether to include leaders of East Asian countries coming for the East Asian Summit.

Supalak G Khundee

The Nation

Singapore