• 
• 
• 

It is not very often that Asean countries, together, take a strong stand against one of their own members. At the special meeting in Phnom Penh early this week every member apart from Burma expressed solidarity with the Thai chairman's statement.

The chair had issued a statement expressing grave concern about the deteriorating health of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the problems she is facing. Asean foreign ministers know deep within their hearts that Burma cannot get away scot-free this time by citing the principle of non-interference. Burma has been using this mantra since it joined Asean 12 years ago.

The ongoing trial of Suu Kyi is making the country and its junta leaders a laughing stock. It is also adversely affecting Asean's reputation. For the past decade the junta leaders have had their own way of doing things, and this time too they think they can get what they want.

Well, after all, the world is in an economic crisis; and worse, Thailand, as the Asean chair, has been in disarray for the past few months, having being forced to postpone a couple of summits. So the junta leaders obviously thought it was time to strike and create confusion again with the aim of marginalising Suu Kyi further by putting her through a ridiculous trial.

It is interesting that Asean has been supportive of Thailand's chairmanship, and if it remains steadfast in its position against Burma, it will be heralding a new era. After all, this is not the old Asean, which operated on a strictly volunteer basis. Back then any member could discard obligations and dump agreements it had signed without having to undergo any sanctions. However, that was brought to a stop in December, when the Asean Charter came into force.

Now the grouping is an intergovernmental organisation with a legal identity. The charter clearly expects members to follow the principles and regulations contained therein. Respect for human rights and democratic values are the key principles of the charter. If Burma's military regime does convict the opposition-party leader, Asean should stand up and ensure that Suu Kyi and other political prisoners are treated fairly. The international community has been pushing Burma to release all the political prisoners incarcerated across the country.

This is a defining moment for Asean. Now the grouping must have the moral courage to deal with Burma's growing intransigence and show that it can no longer afford to behave in such a way. Otherwise it has to pay the price of non-compliance under the charter. As chair, Thailand can initiate a discussion on ways to respond to Burma's non-compliance. The charter has given Asean leaders the leeway to take up any issues related to membership at their summits. In the past a consensus had to be reached within the decision-making hierarchy before such requests reached the leaders. This time around, in fact at the very next summit, Thailand could bring up this subject.

If Asean leaders see eye to eye, there are several options. The most dramatic, and perhaps the most difficult, would be to suspend Burma's membership temporarily until things get better. When Burma skipped the chairmanship in 2005, it did so on its own initiative. If pressure from Asean and the international community continues unabated, Burma may resort to the same tactic: boycotting Asean by pulling out. After all, the junta has mapped out steps to set up a new government after the planned elections next year.

If Asean remains firm and unified, other countries, especially China and India, will proffer their support in the near future. These two Asian giants can get away with their own approach at the moment because Asean does not have a common position. However, with the current solidarity, China and India would be expected to show moral courage. Failure to do so would only jeopardise their ties with the grouping in the future.

China, which joined the UN Security Council in expressing concern over Burma's action last week, should do more. Unfortunately, India is still an oddball as far as Burma is concerned. New Delhi remains tight-lipped on Rangoon's action against Suu Kyi, which is a shameful thing for the world's largest democracy to do.

Now that a new government is in place in India, it should review and readjust its policy on the junta. Also, the international community, including the EU and the US, should converge and galvanise into a bulwark of opposition against Burma's oppressive rulers. Hopefully, the international community can jointly end Burma's inhumane treatment of its own people.