ASEAN will try to convince Myanmar to ‘democratize’
Myanmar, ASEAN’s (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) most troublesome member, will likely escape strong pressure to implement democratic reform when the Southeast Asian bloc holds its 12th annual summit in Cebu this week, analysts said.The nation has long been an embarrassment to the 10-nation bloc due to its dismal human rights record, as Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi acknowledged less than six months ago.
“The situation in Myanmar is impacting upon the image and credibility of ASEAN,” he told a meeting of its foreign ministers.