MALAYSIA CALLS FOR MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH TOWARDS MYANMAR

By Manik Mehta

NEW YORK, April 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has suggested that Western
countries, particularly the United States and the European Union, be "more
pragmatic" in pursuing the goal of establishing a democratic system in Myanmar.

According to a report by Malaysia's Institute of Strategic and International
Studies (ISIS), Western countries and the international community must come to
an accommodation with Myanmar's military regime, which will likely remain in
power even after the planned 2010 elections.

The ISIS report was incorporated in the New York-based Asia Society's
compilation, called "Current Realities and Future Possibilities in
Burma/Myanmar: Perspective From Asia.

The report, entitled "Pragmatic Diplomacy: Reviewing International and
Malaysian Policy Toward Myanmar", was prepared following a roundtable discussion
on Myanmar last Sept 9, with the participation of high-profile Malaysian
personalities, including Tan Sri Razali Ismail, former president of the United
Nations General Assembly and special envoy of the secretary-general on Myanmar.

An overview of Malaysia’s policy toward Myanmar was provided by ambassador
Nazirah Hussin, Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning and
Strategy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Isis organised the discussion to provide Malaysia’s input for a review
of
international policy towards Myanmar as part of the Asia Society’s Burma/Myanmar
Initiative, an Asia Society spokesperson told Bernama.

"Radical political change imposed from the outside is too difficult to
achieve. The consensus was that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean) should take a leading role in addressing the situation in Myanmar.

"Malaysia was instrumental in bringing Myanmar into Asean, believing that
the chances of inducing change in Myanmar would be greater if the country was a
member of Asean," the Isis report said.

Isis recommended a "dual approach" with Western and international actors
such as the USA, the EU and the UN to continue to pressure Myanmar on the
issues of human rights and democracy.

On the other hand, Asian and regional players such as China, India and Asean
would focus on "oft diplomacy", technical aid, and capacity building, while
firmly pressing Myanmar on democratic change.


The Asia Society's task force was co-chaired by Wesley R. Clark, a four-star
retired US army general who was Nato’s supreme allied commander (Europe), and
Henrietta H. Fore, former administrator of the US Agency for International
Development.

Asean-based members of the task force advisory group included Mohamed Jawhar
Hassan, the chairman/CEO of Malaysia’s Isis; Carolina Hernandez, founding
president of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, Philippines;
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International
Studies, Thailand; Rizal Sukma, executive director, Centre for Strategic and
International Studies, Indonesia; and Simon Tay, chairman, Singapore Institute
of International Affairs.

The task force discussed its report Wednesday before a packed house
comprising Asia-interested experts and others at the Asia Society.

The Asia Society set up a task force on US policy toward Myanmar after
President Barack Obama’s administration announced in September 2009 a new policy
direction for relations with Myanmar, moving away from previous efforts to
isolate Myanmar’s military regime, see king to balance economic sanctions with
"pragmatic engagement".

It also tried to expand channels of communication with the military
leadership at higher levels of authority, taking gradual confidence-building
steps to foster cooperation and better understanding.


Though economic sanctions will remain in place until the military leaders
release political prisoners, including Auung San Suu Kyi, the US would seek
greater cooperation with key regional and international players, including the
Asean members, to advance its Myanmar strategy.

Clark emphasised at Wednesday’s event that the US should "work with the
Asean countries to bring about change in Myanmar, and also work together with
China, India and Japan".

Only if progress was satisfactory would cooperation be increased. If genuine
changes were made toward democracy, then Myanmar could look forward to greater
benefits, said Clark who acknowledged that the U.S. on its own, had only
limited influence on Myanmar and should not overestimate its ability.

Priscilla Clapp, a former chief of mission at the US embassy in Myanmar and
a veteran US career diplomat, described 2010 as a “significant year” in
Myanmar’s history.

She predicted that the election in Myanmar would produce some change, from
which a younger generation of politicians -- at least 20 years younger than the
present ruling elite -- would come to power.

-- BERNAMA