Mind Your Own Business, it’s Myanmar domestic affair

Singapore’s proposal to invite the United Nations' special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, to brief East Asian leaders who are meeting here tomorrow has been met with strong opposition by other Asean countries.

Myanmar’s unhappiness over the special briefing was at first voiced by its Foreign Minister Nyan Win to his Asean counterparts yesterday and later in the evening by Myanmar Prime Minister Lieutenant General Thein Sein during the Asean leaders' informal dinner.

Host Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who held a press conference immediately after the dinner said the special session would not be held after Thien Sein voiced his unhappiness.

“Prime Minister Thein Sein (front right) made clear the situation is a domestic affair and Myanmar was capable of handling itself. He explained that Gambari had visited Myanmar four times and Myanmar had implemented many of his proposals. He should only report to the UN Security Council and not the East Asia Summit.

“In view of Myanmar’s position, Gambari will not brief Asean or East Asia Summit leaders. Singapore will facilitate meetings with interested parties,” Lee told a press conference, flanked by all the leaders.

Asean officials said some countries felt that Asean matters should stay within the grouping and not involve other countries outside the region.

“Singapore then proposed for Gambari to meet with Asean leaders and again this was not agreed upon,” said an Asean official.

Singapore has invited Gambari to have a special session when Asean leaders meet their dialogue partners – China, Japan and South Korea – on the latest developments in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Asean Charter to be signed by the leaders today would not sideline Myanmar which has been globally criticised for its human rights violations.

“Whatever views that have been voiced, this is a decision made by our foreign ministers on a consensus basis and Asean must accept it. We do not want any country to be left behind,” he told the Malaysian media.

Abdullah said the charter would pave the way to strengthen Asean’s integration in all aspects including economic and social ones.