Burma crisis tops Asean FMs' agenda

Ahead of the meeting here, various Western governments and nongovernmental organizations have called on the Burmese military government to free Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest of nearly two decades. They also called for an inclusive, free and election, which has yet to be scheduled.

As the Asean foreign ministers gather in Hanoi this week, US President Barrack Obama is expected to sign into law the sanctions bill against Burma, which is now in the Senate, before 26 July. The bill in its seventh year, which was introduced by Congressman Joseph Crowley (Democrat Party, Queens/Bronx), will renew the sanctions.

The "Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003" imposes a ban on Burma imports due to the lack of democratization and cooperation with international community against fighting drug trafficking.

According to an informed source in Hanoi familiar with the Asean agenda, the issue of Burma's nuclear ambition could also be raised by some of the Asean ministers, who have expressed concern in private.

All Asean members signed the Treaty of Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in 1995 in Bangkok. The treaty prohibits the Asean members to build or store nuclear weapons. Burma has dismissed the widely publicized report in the past several weeks of its nuclear aspiration.

Since joining Asean in 1997, problems related to Burma such as political suppression, Rohinya refugees, national reconciliation and democratization process, have been featured in the annual meeting ever since.

The Asean foreign ministers, according to the sources, will also deliberate on the recommendations of senior Asean officials on the modalities of engaging major powers. Senior officials agreed last week that the US and Russia would be invited to join the existing East Asia Summit (EAS) next year, when Indonesia is the Asean chair.

US State Secretary Hilary Clinton, who is coming her to attend the Post Ministerial Meeting and Asean Regional Forum, has expressed the interest to attend the upcoming EAS at the end of October in Hanoi as an observer, according to the sources. The decision has yet to be made.

Early this year, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa proposed the expansion of EAS to include the two superpowers. Singapore has also come up with the Asean plus eight framework that has the grouping as the driving force.

For the first time last week the US made clear its decision to join EAS after years of ambiguity. US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, told the Asean envoys in the US capital that Washington would like to be part of EAS, a premier leader's forum discussion global issues.

Since its establishment in 2005, Russia, which attended the inaugural summit as a special guest of the Malaysian host, has expressed the desire to join EAS. The forum consists of the 10-member Asean, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

In Hanoi, Turkey and Canada will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, increasing the number of signatories to 29. Last year, the US joined TAC, the regional code of conducts which respects the non-use of forces and non-interference in domestic affairs.

EU signatory to TAC, which is expected this week, has been further delayed pending the ratification of the Third Protocol of High Contracting Parties. The first hurdle has been cleared as all signatories have signed the proposed amendment, which permits international organizations such as EU to accede to the treaty.

Another important issue to be discussed is the proposed matrix of Asean common positions related to South China Sea, climate changes, energy and food security.

The Asean leaders will also exchange views on the proposed five-year action plan submitted by the Asean Intergovernmental Commission for Human Rights. The plan calls for the drafting of declaration of Asean human rights as well as thematic studies such as migration issues.