Singapore, NU Online
Indonesia appears to be using a combination of international and bilateral diplomacy in addressing the issue of Myanmar.
On one side, Indonesia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are stepping up the pressure on Myanmar junta chief Gen. Than Shwe.<>
On the other side, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continues his persuasive approach with the Myanmar general because he believes economic and diplomatic embargoes alone will only harden the Myanmar general.
This despite the fact that there was no sign of progress by late Monday. Southeast Asian leaders unexpectedly called off a briefing by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on the situation in Myanmar after the junta objected to his scheduled appearance, AFP reported.
The President clearly believes as a retired Army general he has a chance to convince the Myanmar military junta to return democracy to the impoverished nation despite international pessimism over this approach.
On Monday afternoon, Yudhoyono held a 40-minute "heart-to-heart" talk with Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein before ASEAN leaders attended a working dinner where Myanmar was the main topic.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the President has also been in touch with Gen. Than Shwee, explaining Indonesia's own experience in its transformation into a democratic nation.
"The President emphasized that he wants to continue his correspondence with Gen. Than Shwe," Dino quoted the President as telling the Myanmar prime minister.
The prime minister said the junta is entering the third phase of its seven phase "road map to democracy". He also conveyed Than Shwe's invitation for the President to visit Naypyidaw, the new capital of Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda uncharacteristically reiterated international demands that the junta stop its brutality against its citizens.
"Do not just repeat the seven-step road map (promise to return Myanmar to democracy). We are tired of hearing the same promise while there is no progress there. We want more," Hassan was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying.
Indonesia and other ASEAN countries have desperately tried for years to deal with Myanmar as a regional problem and are reluctant to accept international mediation, including from the United Nations.
On Gambari's canceled briefing, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told AFP that "Myanmar feels that they deal with the UN and it is their own domestic matter. This evening, Myanmar objected and we base our decisions on consensus."
Speaking to Indonesian reporters after the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to adopt the ASEAN Charter on Monday morning, Hassan expressed the regional grouping's frustration over the failure of Gen. Than Shwe to understand that ASEAN reputation was being severely damaged by its poorest member.
"The world will see ASEAN as weird, when Myanmar does not do anything, especially because the UN Security Council has received two reports from Ibrahim Gambari. The world wants ASEAN to do something," said Hassan.
Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that Myanmar should commit to democracy and release its opposition leader if it signs the new ASEAN Charter, or risk the Philippines not ratifying it.
"The expectation of the Philippines is that if Myanmar signs the charter, it is committed to returning to the path of democracy and (to) release Aung San Suu Kyi," said Arroyo, Reuters reported.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said that a free trade deal between Washington and the ASEAN was unlikely because of "the political situation in the region" and said ASEAN credibility had been called into question.
In Brussels, the European Union foreign ministers Monday imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar's military regime, while pressing for national reconciliation.
The new measures, adopted by the foreign ministers during a meeting in Brussels, included an embargo on the import of timber, gems and metals from Myanmar. (dar)
Indonesia appears to be using a combination of international and bilateral diplomacy in addressing the issue of Myanmar.
On one side, Indonesia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are stepping up the pressure on Myanmar junta chief Gen. Than Shwe.<>
On the other side, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono continues his persuasive approach with the Myanmar general because he believes economic and diplomatic embargoes alone will only harden the Myanmar general.
This despite the fact that there was no sign of progress by late Monday. Southeast Asian leaders unexpectedly called off a briefing by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on the situation in Myanmar after the junta objected to his scheduled appearance, AFP reported.
The President clearly believes as a retired Army general he has a chance to convince the Myanmar military junta to return democracy to the impoverished nation despite international pessimism over this approach.
On Monday afternoon, Yudhoyono held a 40-minute "heart-to-heart" talk with Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein before ASEAN leaders attended a working dinner where Myanmar was the main topic.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the President has also been in touch with Gen. Than Shwee, explaining Indonesia's own experience in its transformation into a democratic nation.
"The President emphasized that he wants to continue his correspondence with Gen. Than Shwe," Dino quoted the President as telling the Myanmar prime minister.
The prime minister said the junta is entering the third phase of its seven phase "road map to democracy". He also conveyed Than Shwe's invitation for the President to visit Naypyidaw, the new capital of Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda uncharacteristically reiterated international demands that the junta stop its brutality against its citizens.
"Do not just repeat the seven-step road map (promise to return Myanmar to democracy). We are tired of hearing the same promise while there is no progress there. We want more," Hassan was quoted by The Jakarta Post as saying.
Indonesia and other ASEAN countries have desperately tried for years to deal with Myanmar as a regional problem and are reluctant to accept international mediation, including from the United Nations.
On Gambari's canceled briefing, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told AFP that "Myanmar feels that they deal with the UN and it is their own domestic matter. This evening, Myanmar objected and we base our decisions on consensus."
Speaking to Indonesian reporters after the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to adopt the ASEAN Charter on Monday morning, Hassan expressed the regional grouping's frustration over the failure of Gen. Than Shwe to understand that ASEAN reputation was being severely damaged by its poorest member.
"The world will see ASEAN as weird, when Myanmar does not do anything, especially because the UN Security Council has received two reports from Ibrahim Gambari. The world wants ASEAN to do something," said Hassan.
Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that Myanmar should commit to democracy and release its opposition leader if it signs the new ASEAN Charter, or risk the Philippines not ratifying it.
"The expectation of the Philippines is that if Myanmar signs the charter, it is committed to returning to the path of democracy and (to) release Aung San Suu Kyi," said Arroyo, Reuters reported.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said that a free trade deal between Washington and the ASEAN was unlikely because of "the political situation in the region" and said ASEAN credibility had been called into question.
In Brussels, the European Union foreign ministers Monday imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar's military regime, while pressing for national reconciliation.
The new measures, adopted by the foreign ministers during a meeting in Brussels, included an embargo on the import of timber, gems and metals from Myanmar. (dar)
