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Regional leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday began the 16th ASEAN summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, with the Burma elections expected to feature high on the agenda. Reports emerged today however confirming fears that ASEAN, which stands stubbornly by its policy of non-interference, refused to press the Burmese junta on the topic of controversial election laws.
Thus it would appear that pressure from Burma’s immediate neighbours, the most important external actors in Burmese politics, will fall short of what is needed to ensure democratic transition in the military-ruled country.
