WHAT OTHERS SAY

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BUSINESS TIMES 31/7
                          What Others Say 



Myanmar -- test for Asean 

THERE is little sign of the dust settling within the international community
in the wake of last
week's decision to admit Myanmar to the Association of South-east Asian
Nations (Asean). 

Asean has clearly failed to persuade Western countries to give "constructive
engagement" a
chance. The reasoning behind this policy is that the junta's
authoritarianism would be mellowed and
in due course transformed by prosperity... Now it is up to Asean to see that
constructive
engagement does indeed produce results, otherwise Myanmar will look very
much like an odd
man out within the regional grouping. 

Hongkong Standard, July 30