Under-fire Asean to meet on Myanmar

Borneo Bulletin May 19, 2008

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers meet here Monday to discuss how to help Myanmar recover from a devastating cyclone, amid criticism their regional bloc has been too slow to respond.

The meeting comes more than two weeks after Cyclone Nargis left more than 133,000 dead or missing and up to 2.5 million survivors needing urgent aid in Myanmar, whose junta has spurned offers of a huge foreign relief operation.


John Holmes, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, arrived in Myanmar Sunday to urge its military junta to accept more international aid for cyclone survivors, amid mounting fears of starvation, especially among children.

Singapore, which currently chairs the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), called the talks to discuss the humanitarian situation in its impoverished member "and consider how best to assist Myanmar in its relief and recovery efforts".

In contrast with more aggressive calls by Western nations for the junta to open its doors to foreign aid workers, Asean is likely to attempt a compromise to speed up aid delivery and spur reconstruction, diplomatic sources said.

But under Asean's consensus doctrine, any such plan must have the approval of Myanmar, whose foreign minister Nyan Win is attending.

Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has said he and his fellow ministers would discuss forming a mechanism within Asean to help member nations suffering from similar disasters in the future.

Thailand will also air its proposal for Asean to work with the United Nations to help Myanmar recover from the disaster, Noppadon said.

But critics wonder whether the Singapore talks would make any difference if the Myanmar junta, whose human rights records has become a black mark for the entire organisation, remains reluctant to accept substantial foreign help.

Asean member states, including Singapore and Thailand, have individually sent aid to Myanmar, whose ruling generals have accepted relief goods but refused to allow foreign relief workers to distribute them.

Despite impassioned appeals by the United Nations, the United States, France, Britain and humanitarian groups for Myanmar to ease restrictions, Asean's leaders have yet to make their voices heard.

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