MFA Press Release: Transcripts of Senior Minister of State Zainul Abidin Rasheed's replies to the Parliamentary Question and Supplementary Questions, 28 May 2009

TRANSCRIPT OF SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED'S REPLY TO THE PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION, 28 MAY 2009

Question:

*1. Mr Inderjit Singh: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether ASEAN will consider suspending Myanmar from ASEAN given that the Myanmar government continues to treat Aung San Su Kyi without regard to representation from ASEAN and ASEAN member countries.

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REPLY:

Mr Speaker Sir, domestic developments in Myanmar have adversely affected the reputation and credibility of ASEAN. ASEAN has repeatedly called on the Myanmar Government to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. As Myanmar has ratified the ASEAN Charter, it has certain obligations to human rights under the Charter. However, the question of expulsion or suspension, while often raised by external observers of ASEAN, is not as straightforward as it seems. Western sanctions have had little effect on Myanmar so long as China and India keep their borders with Myanmar open. We have always believed in ASEAN that we have more influence over Myanmar, however limited, through engagement rather than isolating it. On its part, despite frequent criticisms by ASEAN, Myanmar has remained committed to ASEAN and attended all meetings.

2 Singapore by itself has also been calling on Myanmar to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and seek national reconciliation. On 15 May 2009, Singapore issued a statement expressing our dismay at the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

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TRANSCRIPT OF SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED'S REPLIES TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS, 28 MAY 2009

MP Charles Chong: Mr Speaker Sir, could the Senior Minister of State tell us what benefits or value has the membership of Myanmar brought to ASEAN, other than grave concern, dismay and sometimes even revulsion. If there were no provisions in the ASEAN constitution to suspend or expel Myanmar from ASEAN, is there any way for ASEAN to persuade Myanmar to resign from the Association or is there also no provision for countries to resign from ASEAN?

SMS Zainul: Mr Speaker Sir, I do not know what direct effect we will have in terms of getting rid of Myanmar from ASEAN, but I think we know that there are benefits in having Myanmar as part of the regional grouping. We started off, as you know, with five members. We have grown to six with Brunei, and then later on we have four more joining, so we have all the 10. As you can see, Myanmar is really committed to ASEAN by actually attending all meetings, although this is one area which I think is of concern, not only to Singapore and the region, but also to the world. We believe that if isolating Myanmar could have resolved this situation, we would have done so. But we believe that engaging Myanmar will in fact bring about the possibility of getting more accountability from Myanmar. We believe that there is value in us retaining Myanmar in ASEAN and working with Myanmar on this issue. I think we have to be patient here. It may take time, but let us work on it. Because we also believe that while we can do it through ASEAN - and even though Singapore has taken its own stand - we will continue to support the efforts by the international community, in particular that by the UN and its Good Offices through Professor Ibrahim Gambari, to bring about change in Myanmar. Although we cannot expect change overnight, ASEAN I believe, must continue, like the international community, to press for transition and change in Myanmar.

MP Inderjit Singh: Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he agrees that if we want ASEAN to be taken seriously by the world, concrete steps need to be taken, not just on this issue, but all the things that Myanmar has been blocking ASEAN from doing. Hoping for them to come around is going to take a long time. Is it worth sacrificing ASEAN for this sake? We were five members before, can we restart at nine, and then hope to get to 10 one day? I think that may be a better approach for ASEAN and to gain credibility and then build up the numbers again.

SMS Zainul: I believe ASEAN's credibility does not just hinge on Myanmar. ASEAN's credibility has been built over the years. And we have shown a lot of credibility in many areas in terms of international relations. I think not only ASEAN is actually facing this stalemate if you like, but even at the international organisation level. At the UN level, even at the Security Council level. So I think we have to be realistic. While we want to be pragmatic, we also have to be realistic that we do not have the leverage to cause the kind of change in Myanmar. We need to understand that Myanmar is a country that is used to isolation by the international community. Experience over the past years has shown that it will not yield to sanctions and intimidation. So I think one has to measure credibility and also value to ASEAN, not only in terms of the time and longer term benefits, but also what we will achieve if we just forced the issue, or will we bring about change or will change be better approached if we take it step by step.

NMP Siew Kum Hong: Sir, I have one supplementary question for the SMS. Thailand as ASEAN Chair issued a statement criticising Myanmar for its trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and Myanmar's response was that Thailand was meddling in Myanmar's internal affairs, so I would like to ask the SMS on what is the Government's position on the statement on whether it supports perceptions that the ASEAN Charter's principle of non-interference allows for precisely this sort of behaviour by Myanmar?

SMS Zainul: I refer to the question of ASEAN's statement. While Myanmar has the right to rebut it - and this was in fact discussed at the meeting yesterday at Phnom Penh with the ASEAN Ministers - I believe that in fact Thailand has the right as the ASEAN Chair to make that kind of statement. So, I think that Thailand is not actually going beyond its boundary or its role and responsibility as ASEAN Chair to make that statement.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 MAY 2009