ASEAN calls for democracy in Myanmar, bars UN envoy

[SoCalDem]

http://www.reuters.com/article/mapNews/idUSSP5893620071119

ASEAN calls for democracy in Myanmar, bars UN envoy
Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:57am EST

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations said on Monday that Myanmar should work with the United Nations on democracy and release political detainees, but they barred a U.N. envoy from briefing a summit in Singapore where they will sign a charter promoting human rights.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to sign the charter on Tuesday that calls for promotion of democracy and human rights, though it has come under fire for member Myanmar after its junta's crackdown on pro-democracy protests. "Most leaders expressed the view that Myanmar could not go back or stay put. The process of national reconciliation has to move forward and the U.N. plays a vital role in this process," said Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, after a late-night emergency meeting of ASEAN leaders.

However, he said that U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari would not brief the ASEAN summit on developments in Myanmar after an objection by Myanmar's military prime minister Thein Sein. Lee told reporters that Thein Sein made clear this was a domestic issue that Myanmar was "fully capable" of handling. ASEAN has a policy of non-interference in other members' domestic affairs and has rejected calls for Myanmar's suspension.

snip..

Diplomats have also dismissed the Myanmar junta's "roadmap to democracy" as a blueprint for the army legitimizing its grip on power after 45 years of unbroken military rule. The EU adopted sanctions on Myanmar on Monday while ASEAN drew fire from the U.S., which said a free trade deal between Washington and ASEAN was unlikely because of the political situation.

(Reporting by Daryl Loo; writing by Neil Chatterjee; editing by Sami Aboudi)

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