R EG I O NA L P E RS P EC T I V E
based on an opinion published on The Nation
by: Kavi Chongkittavorn
with some contributions
by: Jeg
8 June 2009

 lack of commitment and compliance to
the ASEAN Charter
 border attacks on minority groups
 Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s nonsensical imprisonment
 political prisoners imprisoned under made-up charges for
unreasonable terms
 lack of transparency on democratic principles and
implementation
 lack of commitment towards human rights

 to stop Burma's constant blackmail
 to stop human trafficking
 to improve illegal Burmese migration
 to improve regional relations

 instability in neighbouring countries directly impact
on its own security situation
 countries sharing borders with China are in perpetual
crisis and chaos or luan in Chinese

 al-Qaeda and Taleban in Pakistan and Afghanistan
 rising tension in the Korean Peninsula

 for support and
 impress on Burma to accommodate the
grouping's concern
 a stronger Asean is good for China
 a stable Burma is good for both China, Asean and
the peaceful world

 coping with two pivotal neighbours
 one is strategically located giving Beijing access
to two oceans and numerous logistic advantages and
 the other is a traditional friend and
concurrently the Asean chair

 has to quickly decide whether becoming supportive
towards the region
or
 show its true colors soon

 Read full article…
The Burmese factor in Thai-Sino relations