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Jakarta Post

SBY urged to ask Myanmar to speed up democratization

The visit by Myanmar Prime Minister Gen

Lilian Budianto and Abdul Khalik (The Jakarta Post)
JAKARTA
Mon, March 16, 2009

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SBY urged to ask Myanmar to speed up democratization

The visit by Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein could see Indonesia ask the junta to speed up democratization and human rights respect.

University of Indonesia international relations expert Bantarto Bandoro said Sunday that the visit by Thein Sein showed how close Myanmar saw its relations with Indonesia.

“Myanmar considers Indonesia its best friend. As a friend, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono can directly ask Myanmar to quicken its democratic process and respect human rights principles, including appealing for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, without causing hard feelings to Thein Sein,” he said.

Yudhoyono must tell Thein Sein that it was in Myanmar’s best interests to follow international norms of respecting human rights, Bantarto added.

Thein Sein will pay an official visit to Indonesia from March 16-17, three weeks before the elections in Southeast Asia’s largest democracy.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Friday the prime minister would meet with Yudhoyono to “discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues” in his first visit to the country since assuming his present post in 2007.

“Indonesia regards Myanmar as a friend, and bilateral relations between the two countries have gone well, as seen in the frequency of visits by officials from both sides,” Dino said.

Despite the atrocities committed by the military regime in Myanmar, leaders of democratic Indonesia maintain close ties with the junta.

Thein Sein might receive a red carpet welcome at the Presidential Palace, but not from the millions of Indonesians who embrace democracy, human rights and peace. Strong opposition by civil society groups has been voiced over his visit.

Rafendi Djamin, coordinator for the Human Rights Watch Group (HRWG), said the junta leader’s visit would have an adverse impact on Indonesia, as it would be unlikely to produce any significant results for the rights progress in a country where thousands of people, including democratic icon Suu Kyi, were detained for political reasons.

“There is no point holding a dialogue with a country that has no commitment to building a democracy and releasing its political prisoners,” Rafendi said.

“The Myanmar junta might instead use the chance to meet with democratic leaders to justify [its claims of having engaged in the democratic process]. Myanmar can tell the world [its leader] is in Indonesia to learn about democracy as the country prepares for its elections.”

Myanmar has been under severe economic sanctions imposed by Western countries for not recognizing the results of its 1990 elections, which saw Suu Kyi’s party win a landslide victory. Suu Kyi is now under house arrest by the junta. Southeast Asia’s regional grouping ASEAN, of which Myanmar and Indonesia are members, has failed to push for political reform in the impoverished country.

Legislator Djoko Susilo said the government should also discuss the plight of hundreds of Rohingya boatpeople from Myanmar now stranded in Indonesia after attempts to escape prosecution by the junta and economic hardship, during the Myanmar leader’s visit.

“The government must use the chance to urge Myanmar to take the boatpeople back and ensure that they will be treated well,” he said.

“The government should also press Myanmar for a commitment to upholding democracy, especially releasing opposition leader Suu Kyi.”

Thein Sein will lead a 45-person delegation, including five ministers and nine businessmen, Dino said.

AFP reported that Thein Sein will also visit Singapore to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as part of his trip.

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