Burma is walking along the path of regression and self-destruction. Even among the Asean family, Burma still acts like a stranger. At the recent Asean ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the same old attitude clearly remained. It was clear to all there that Burma remained out of sync with Asean and the rest of the world. The Burmese junta might be content that the statement issued by Asean at the meeting's end did not contain the harsh critical language that was originally planned, but the fact remains that Asean is not happy with Burma's performance.
It is time for Asean, along with the international community, to join hands and push for decisive action on Burma. By "international community", we are referring to the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council, but indeed all countries that desire positive changes in Burma, namely political openness and democratisation.
Never before has the role of the international community in deciding the fate of Burma been so pivotal. In the past, key international players were fragmented, but now there seems to be a convergence of opinion among most.
In Washington, US President George W Bush has renewed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 for another year and extended important restrictions against the regime in Pyinmana, Burma's new capital.
Bush is more serious about Burma than ever. After all, it was his administration that successfully pushed the Security Council to take up these conditions on Burma informally last December. That momentum continues, with the US and other Western countries working together to place the Burmese issue on the council's agenda.
But Thailand, yet again, is sending the wrong signals to the much-reviled regime. Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday hastily organised a trip to Burma, catching everyone off guard, including his ministers and the top military leaders accompanying him. This trip has unnecessarily given the junta the political capital it needs at a time when the rest of the world and other Asean members are calling on Rangoon to reform.
Thaksin had promised to pressure the regime into curbing the flow of drugs into Thailand, but drug lords and their foot soldiers continue to operate along the Burmese side of the border with impunity.
It is unfortunate that Asean was unable to reach a consensus on Burma in Kuala Lumpur for fear that would undermine the grouping's unity and reputation. New Asean members, themselves either undemocratic or democratically weak, fear that if they agreed with the senior members' desire to punish Burma, they could be targeted next. But maintaining the status quo is not a sensible option either. Unless Asean stops the rot in Burma, that pariah nation could undermine and eventually destroy the organisation from within. As Asean prepares to draft its charter, let's make sure prospective members of the drafting committee know exactly what is at stake.
After all, Asean's desire to establish a comprehensive community by 2020 requires it to come with legally binding principles that ensure that member countries behave in predictable and fraternal ways. If Burma continues with its anti-social actions, it will be subjected to censure by other members under the new rule.
The best Asean can do on Burma is to encourage the UN to take the junta to task. Never mind that China and Russia would object to the proposal; let it be known around the world that it is these two countries that continue to support the pariah state and defy the aspirations of the international community.
The Burmese junta continues to manipulate fellow Asean nations, knowing there are divergent views between old and new members. The junta keeps harping on the latter's fear of intervention from older member countries.
Next year, Asean celebrates its 40th anniversary. The group could do better starting anew without Burma as a dead weight. Sooner or later, Asean has to decide whether Burma is worth protecting. Asean must wake up and understand that Burma has held it hostage for the past seven years and insist to the pariah state that enough is enough.