| ASEAN criticised as Burma marks 10 years as member
July 23, 2007 (DVB)—As Burma marked the 10 year anniversary of its membership in ASEAN today the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus said the regional grouping had failed to encourage democratisation in the country.
AIPMC executive director Roshan Jason told DVB today that while ASEAN had granted Burma membership in an attempt to win the ruling regime’s trust, the grouping had failed to persuade the military to implement meaningful political reforms.
“Not only has there been a lack of change in democracy or any signs of democratisation in Burma, there is also a lack of respect for human rights and the increasing abuse of human rights,” Jason said.
He said that while the ongoing decline of the country’s economic, health and education sectors and the continuing armed conflicts had resulted from the militaries lack of management skills, ASEAN was also responsible for shouldering some of the blame.
“ASEAN has to take full responsibility for the state of Burma’s situation, the state of its people, economy and politics. They took ownership of the situation by allowing Burma to become a member,” Jason said.
Burma became a member of ASEAN along with Laos in 1997.
Reporting by Ye Thu
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