ASEAN sanctuary for Burma.

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		ASEAN sanctuary for Burma
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	Burma today boasted over its admission to the club of Asian 
regional nations as its neighbors closed ranks against Western moves to 
attack the Rangoon junta for continuing political human rights abuses.

	Foreign ministers of the seven-member Association of South-East 
Asia  Nations applauded Burma's induction yesterday as an official 
observer at their annual conference and confirmed that full membership 
would be granted as soon as practicable.

	The moves signalled a determination by the ASEAN ministers to 
fight any attempt to censure Burma during their talks later this week 
with other Asian and Western nations, including Australia.

	The ASEAN  chairman, Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, 
said Burmese membership was part of "an abiding and perasive vision" to 
see all 10 countries of the region" living within the fold of the ASEAN 
family".

	ASEAN now links Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Phillippines, 
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos are to become members 
in 1997.

	The official Burmese media today trumpeted the granting of 
observer status and derided attempts to censure the regime in Jakarta 
this week.

	"Regardless of the wedge work, the rhetoric and wiles of those 
who interfere in the internal affairs of Asian nations, or of the region, 
there is always the staunch convinction that blood is thicker than water 
and that Asian unity or ASEAN unity will bring greater benefits," an 
editorial in the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

	"Despite the cacophony of unworthy utterances by those who wish 
us ill...acting like the proverbial dog in the manger, Asians know what 
to do when their cohesion and long-term interests are jeopardised."

	The ASEAN leaders have spurned a personal appeal by the Burmese 
democracy leader Ms Aung Suu kyi for renewed international pressure to 
persuade the regime to open dialogue on returning the country to democracy.

	The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, is expected 
to take a strong stand during bilateral talks tomorrow with his Burmese 
counterpart, Mr Ohn Gyaw. But it is uncertain how far the United States 
and the EU are prepared to press the issue.

[By Mark Baker, South-East Asia correspondent, Jakarta, 21 July 1996].

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