Asean leaders accepted Burma as a member of its regional association in 1997, despite a request not to accept this junta from the opposition movements and the National League for Democracy, which won more than 80% of the seats in the 1990 general election. But Asean leaders believed a "constructive engagement" policy and non-interference would bring the military regime into the international arena and change their mindset.
At the last Non-Aligned Movement meeting in Malaysia, the junta's foreign minister, U Nyan Win, told reporters that the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was a domestic issue. What this means, in Burmese language, is: "None of your business".
This is the fruit of Asean's "constructive engagement" policy towards Burma. Asean should think twice in the future when dealing with these people in uniform.
SONNY MAHINDER
Joint General Secretary
All Burma Students' Democratic Front