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ASEAN Rejects Call To Suspend Myanmar

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 19, 2007

SINGAPORE - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Sunday rejected the U.S. Senate's call to suspend Myanmar, saying the military-ruled country is like a troubled child who must be disciplined with dialogue.

"Myanmar is part of our family and it is the principle involved," ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong told reporters, a day before an annual summit of Southeast Asian leaders convenes in Singapore. "It's like you as a parent, if you have a troubled child, do you say, '... go out of the house, I don't want to talk to you?'"

The U.S. Senate on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution urging ASEAN to consider "appropriate disciplinary measures, including suspension, until such time as the government of Burma has demonstrated improved respect for and commitment to human rights." Myanmar is also known as Burma.

The Associated Press

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