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Published on March 1, 2008

The Asean charter and ongoing integration will help the grouping to be firmer in setting standards for human rights and democracy that members have to live up to, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill said in a public lecture at Chulalongkorn University.

Hill, who is on a three-day visit, has met Prime Minister Samak Sundraravej and senior Thai officials. He also held a breakfast meeting with Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan.

To show its support for Asean's charter and integration, the US has named Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia and Pacific Affairs, as its Asean ambassador to handle all matters related to the grouping. His nomination has been forwarded to the US Senate, Hill said.

The US is the first country to name such an ambassador.

Hill said the US wants to work closely with Asean to find ways to bring about peaceful change in Burma. Both sides have different approaches to the Burmese quagmire: while the US wants targeted sanctions, Asean prefers further engagement with Burma, which became a member in 1997.

Without referring to the Burmese junta's recent announcement of a constitutional referendum and subsequent elections, from which pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be barred because of her marriage to a foreigner, Hill said any change in the country must be credible and inclusive. He also called for the release of Suu Kyi and all other political detainees.

He expressed strong support for the role played by United Nations special envoy for Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, who is scheduled to go there soon. There is a good political process going on with Gambari and its behove the Burmese government to try to meet him, he said.

 "The future of that regime is bleak, so they should try to respond," he said. China, India, the European Union, Asean and the UN should play a more active role in solving problems in Burma, he added.

Hill said the US had no intention of competing with China in the region. "More China does mean less of US," he reiterated.

China has a closer relationship with Asean at all levels. Both sides held more than 50 meetings last year, whereas the US and Asean held only a few meetings to discuss mutual issues. Hill said the 175-year-old friendship between the US and Thailand was broad and deep, adding that the restoration of elected government strengthened Thailand's leadership role in the region.

 Hill said the US supported the establishment of a Northeast Asian security mechanism to deal with the crisis in the Korean Peninsula. Although the proposed mechanism is focused on political and security issues, it could over time compete with the Asean Regional Forum.

The Nation