RI hopes process of democratization in Myanmar must not damage country's unity

Jakarta, NU Online
Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Saturday that process of democratization in Myanmar must not damage unity in that country.

"I am still seeking ways of how to encourage democratization and implementation of human rights in that country while at the same time not to damage its national unity and security," he said when breaking the fast with his Democrats’ Party cadres at his private residence in Puri Cikeas, Bogor.<>

On the sidelines of the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York last month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had urged the Indonesian president to take an active role in solving problems in Myanmar.

"It is not only democracy or a road map to democracy that has to be developed - as Myanmar has promised to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) - but we must also share about national security and unity with Myanmarese leaders," he said.

He said when a number of heads of state including US president George W Bush asked about the country’s opinion with regard to situation in Myanmar he told that the Myanmar problem was not only about democracy.

"I said if we wish to settle the Myanmar problem we must not only address democratization but also how it could be developed without damaging the country’s unity," he said.

He emphasized that the view was worth developing. "I am still  preparing something to convey the view so that all parties are willing to accept it wholeheartedly. We also used to be pressured to conduct democratization. We certainly wished to democratize, implement human rights, open up but certainly would not accept if the process was done forcibly that eventually would damage national unity," he said.

He said the two components namely democracy and national unity were equally important so that a new formula had to be found to assure implementation of democracy and human rights without breaking a national unity.

"That is what people must pay attention to if they wish to settle the Myanmar problem," he was quoted by the state news agency as saying.

The gathering was also attended by several cabinet ministers. On the occasion the president also briefed on the results of his participation in the APEC summit in Australia and the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York recently. (dar)