Singapore
24 July 2008
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has criticized Burma'smilitary government for being out of step with its southeast Asianneighbors on rule of law, human rights, and democracy. VOA's LuisRamirez reports from Singapore Rice spoke to ministers attending aSoutheast Asia security forum.
The meeting brought togetherministers from 10 members of the Association of Southeast AsianNations, ASEAN, who talked about issues including a brewing borderconflict between Thailand and Cambodia and disaster preparedness in thewake of Cyclone Nargis in Burma.
But it was the matter ofpolitics that overshadowed discussions on the impoverished,military-ruled country, which is a member of ASEAN. The group isusually reluctant to criticize Burma's generals, but ASEAN chairGeorge Yeo, Singapore's foreign minister, said ministers at the meetinghad raised concerns about the generals' continued house arrest ofopposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"On her detention, weexpressed our deep disappointment and asked for her early release, ofAung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners," he said.
Secretaryof State Condoleezza Rice, speaking on the sidelines of the forum, saidBurma is out of step with its fellow ASEAN members who aspire to therule of law, human rights, and the development of pluralistic politicalsystems.
Rice also expressed concerns about developments inMalaysia, another ASEAN member, where authorities have put anopposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, under investigation for sodomy. Anwar was at the forefront of a major election upset that dealtMalaysia's long-ruling coalition the biggest loss of its history lastMarch. The top U.S. diplomat urged Malaysia to ensure a transparentinvestigation, one that adheres to the rule of law.
Also onthe ASEAN ministers' agenda was a brewing conflict along the border ofThailand and Cambodia. The two countries have been preparing forpossible attacks stemming from a dispute over access to an ancienttemple that sits on the border.
ASEAN chairman George Yeo said some ministers opposed Cambodia's decision to take the matter to the U.N. Security Council.
"Itshould not have to go to the U.N. Security council," he said. "It wasnot a problem just a few weeks ago. It has suddenly become a problem. Why has it become a problem?"
Yeo called Cambodia's action premature and said the dispute should be handled within the region.
Loominglarge at the security meeting was the North Korean nuclear issue. Secretary Rice held a rare meeting Wednesday with her North Koreancounterpart as part of a gathering of six-party nuclear negotiationsthat also include China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, on thesidelines of the forum.
Thursday, the U.S. official said it isnow up to North Korea move the process along by accepting verificationof its nuclear activities. Rice said the declaration the North madelast month on plutonium production and other activities has leftquestions that need to be answered. A spokesman for the North Koreandelegation said all issues, including verification, can be resolved ifthe U.S. delivers on its promises, in keeping with the principle ofaction for action.
North Korea has agreed to dismantle itsnuclear program in exchange for food and fuel aid. Washington has alsopromised to remove Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors ofterrorism.