Thailand expressed opposition Monday to a suggestion from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed that Myanmar (Burma) might have to be expelled from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) because of its abysmal human rights record.
| It's seldom I agree with Mahathir, but in this case I'll make an exception... |
Mahathir was quoted as saying over the weekend he was disappointed in Myanmar's ruling junta for crushing the country's democracy movement and jailing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He said the other nine members of ASEAN would have to reconsider Myanmar's membership in the grouping, if the junta continued to reject worldwide demands for Suu Kyi's release. "Mahathir has the right to express his own opinion, but ASEAN has so far made no decision on this issue," Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said when asked by reporters about Mahathir's remarks. "For Thailand, we believe it's better if Burma stays in ASEAN, because this gives them a channel for discussion," Surakiart said. "This benefits Thailand because we have a long border with Burma."
| Which boils down to the old argument: is it better to isolate the diseased state, or remain in contact and try to guide it toward reform? I can't think of any states that have been talked out of authoritarian kleptocracy, but maybe there's been one or two... |
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