MFA Press Release: Transcript of Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam’s reply to Parliamentary Questions and Supplementary Questions, 14 May 2012

TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS K SHANMUGAM’S REPLY TO THE PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS, 14 MAY 2012

QUESTIONS:

MS IRENE NG PHEK HOONG: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is his assessment on the recent political developments and reforms in Myanmar, and how will ASEAN encourage Myanmar to continue on this democratic path.

MR NICHOLAS FANG: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is Singapore's position on the latest political developments in Myanmar with respect to Myanmar's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2014 and the implications this will have for achieving an ASEAN Community by 2015.

MS MARY LIEW: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give his assessment of the situation in Myanmar and what is the impact of the recent developments in Myanmar on Singapore and ASEAN as a whole.

REPLY:

Mr Speaker, Sir,

1 As Questions 14, 15 and 16 are related, I will take them together with your leave. I last spoke on this issue two months ago at the 14 February sitting. Let me provide a short update on developments since then. Myanmar successfully held peaceful and inclusive by-elections on 1 April 2012. Myanmar invited observers from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, and regional as well as international organisations to this important event. Just two days after, Myanmar President Thein Sein briefed ASEAN Leaders at the 20th ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh on developments in his country. ASEAN Leaders welcomed the successful by-elections, in line with ASEAN’s position to support Myanmar’s implementation of its Seven-Step Roadmap to Democracy. To this end, the ASEAN Leaders also called for the immediate lifting of all sanctions on Myanmar.

2 The current Myanmar government's commitment to national reconciliation is starting to show results. At this important juncture, we hope that the opposition parties as well as the government will continue to make efforts to work together for the good of their country. Moving forward will require all stakeholders to display pragmatism and political flexibility as they navigate unprecedented situations.

3 ASEAN’s consistent advocacy for the lifting of sanctions is gaining traction in the international community. After Australia and the US announced that they intended to ease some sanctions against Myanmar, the European Union quickly followed suit and agreed to suspend most of its sanctions too. On 30 April 2012, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who just visited Myanmar also called for the international community to lift sanctions on Myanmar.

4 The overall trajectory of political developments in Myanmar in recent months has been positive. The gains will need to be consolidated and the way forward will be fraught with uncertainties. This is inevitable in any transition of the magnitude we have witnessed. The steps that President Thein Sein and his government are taking ought to be recognised and encouraged. To that effect, ASEAN maintains that all sanctions should be lifted. Not only will it send a strong signal of encouragement to the people of Myanmar to continue on the path to reform, it will also help integrate Myanmar’s economy into the global system. These would stand Myanmar in good stead as it heads towards assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014.

5 Myanmar’s ASEAN Chairmanship will come at a crucial time, just before ASEAN’s goal of achieving an ASEAN Community in 2015. Myanmar is aware of the stakes, and is taking steps to address the unique challenges of the Chairmanship. We are confident that Myanmar will work hard to make its Chairmanship a success. Singapore has continued to provide capacity building assistance to Myanmar officials and will fully support Myanmar’s efforts to ensure successful outcomes in 2014. Thank you.

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TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS K SHANMUGAM’S REPLIES TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS, 14 MAY 2012

SPEAKER: Ms Mary Liew.

MS MARY LIEW (NOMINATED MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT): I would like to thank the Minister for the update and I would like to ask a Supplementary Question. Would there be a situation where, probably we could get an assessment from the Minister, would there be a situation whereby foreign investors would prefer Myanmar than Singapore in the long run and how would that affect Singapore, its economy, as well as our workers? Thank you.

MINISTER: You should probably ask the Minister for Trade and Industry. I think the approach we should take to these things is that Myanmar is a country of 60 million and it is rich in resources. By integrating into the regional and international economy, we should see it as offering tremendous opportunities to Singapore as well as other countries; and if you look at the nature of the economies and where Myanmar is and where the other countries in the region are, including Singapore, we are at different levels of development, and we are in a position to help Myanmar in a number of ways and it should be a win-win outcome. Thank you.

SPEAKER: Mr Nicholas Fang.

MR NICHOLAS FANG (NOMINATED MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT): Thank you Minister. One supplementary question to follow up here as well. You mentioned that there are some areas we are looking at, and obviously the opening up of, the lifting of sanctions to benefit Myanmar’s economy, has there been any update since the last time we spoke about specific sectors for Singapore companies looking to invest and possibly moving into in Myanmar? I know some have been mentioned in the past, have there been any latest updates? Thank you.

MINISTER: I think it’s not just Singapore companies which are looking at Myanmar. We’ve got to be very clear about what we are talking about. When I make my statements, we are talking about helping Myanmar in capacity development and public governance, and to be able to absorb the changes that are taking place and to help their people improve their lives. In addition of course, we facilitate investment trips to Myanmar and likewise companies from all over the world are looking at Myanmar, and Myanmar has got to assess what sorts of partnerships and investments would help facilitate its development at this point of its transition. We have had a number of visits by our business people. The Singapore Business Federation has led highly successful visits, oversubscribed each time it has gone, and you know of course, we don’t make decisions for business people. They go there, they look, and these are early days, but I think what I can say is the interest in Myanmar is very substantial. We believe that interest can be developed in a way that is beneficial for Myanmar and beneficial for the world, including Singapore.

SPEAKER: Mr Lim Wee Kiak, last question.

MR LIM WEE KIAK (NEE SOON): Thank you Mr Speaker. I’d like to ask the Foreign Minister regarding reports I’ve read regarding the treatment of minority groups in Myanmar, especially the Karen group as well as the Shan group. It seems that there is a lot of suppression and a lot of human rights violations. Whether the ASEAN Foreign Ministers have opinions on that, and how it should be resolved, taking into account whether it would affect the image of ASEAN, ultimately.

MINISTER: We have always encouraged Myanmar to adopt international norms in the treatment of all its people. The way we have done it is to say to the world that sanctions are not the most effective way, and at the same time, to encourage Myanmar to adopt practices which are consistent with international norms, not just vis-à-vis minorities but vis-à-vis all of its people. I think it is inappropriate for me to comment on specific treatment of minorities as such, but the developments that have taken place since October of last year, in fact up to now, including the signing of peace agreements with a very substantial number of minority groups, all forebode well, they are in the right direction and ought to be encouraged.

SPEAKER: Ms Irene Ng, last question.

MS IRENE NG PHEK HOONG (TAMPINES): May I ask the Foreign Minister for his assessment of the military junta government in Myanmar in terms of their approach towards reforms and their commitment to political reforms and also his assessment of Aung San Suu Kyi, in her ability to forge a united Myanmar, which champions democracy.

MINISTER: Listening to the Member’s question, one almost thinks that she has taken hook, line and sinker all the propaganda against Myanmar. First of all, there is no military junta in charge, the Member might recall that there were elections held a little bit earlier, and there was an elected President and Parliament. There may be different views on how that Parliament and leadership ought to be viewed, but certainly I think that we are dealing with a sovereign country that has dealt with its institutions through an election, whether perfect or imperfect, and by most accounts the by-elections have met norms which have satisfied most people, the most recent by-elections. I think if you look at the actions of the President who has been elected, particularly in the last six months or so, it’s not just Singapore, it’s not just ASEAN; I refer to the US, Australia, the European Union, everyone recognises that these are real, credible changes which ought to be supported. They are very positive. Second, as regards to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s ability to, I think you said, “manage the country”, again I think the Member might be running a little bit ahead of the events. She is leader of a party that has the minority of seats in parliament. It is encouraging that both the President, the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi all have pledged to work within the current framework to transform Myanmar. We hope that that practical flexibility and pragmatism continue to prevail, and if it does, there is reason to be optimistic. Thank you.

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