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“Never” suspend Myanmar from ASEAN – Hamid’s statement most deplorable and reprehensible

I am totally flabbergasted by the statement of the Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar that ASEAN will never suspend Myanmar despite its bloody crackdown on mass protests after his meeting with the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari yesterday.

Hamid’s declaration is most deplorable and reprehensible as it has undone the “revulsion” statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the United Nations last month over the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar, given encouragement to the Myanmar military junta’s hardline position and undermined Ibrahim Gambari’s diplomatic efforts to kickstart a political dialogue in Burma for national reconciliation and democratization.

Malaysia’s public position that Myanmar will never be suspended from ASEAN under any circumstances will only strengthen and harden the Myanmar military junta in its defiant and unrepentant responses to the international outrage at its bloody repression of peaceful dissent, shrugging off international action to punish it for its crackdown of the saffron revolution last month, even as Japan cut aid and European nations widened sanctions.

Even if the Malaysian government is currently of the view that Myanmar should never be suspended, let alone expelled, from ASEAN whatever egregious violations of human rights and democratic freedoms of the people of Burma are committed by the Myanmar military junta, why was it tactically necessary for Hamid to make such a public statement at a time when every lever should be applied to single-mindedly impress on the Myanmar military junta the unity and weight of regional and international opinion that it should respond positively to United Nations initiatives for a political dialogue for national reconciliation and democratization in Burma and to end all human right violations.

However, is it the position of the Malaysian government under the premiership of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that Malaysia will oppose any suspension or expulsion of Myanmar from ASEAN regardless of what human right violations and atrocities are committed by its military junta?

This should not be the position of the Malaysian government as the Malaysian Parliament has never given a mandate to the government to extend unconditional support to the Myanmar military junta whether regionally or internationally regardless of its human rights violations or atrocities or even crimes against humanity.

It is not enough for any ASEAN nation to say that ASEAN backs the United Nation efforts and urges Myanmar to co-operate with Gambari and the United Nations to find a political solution.

There is not much optimism that Gambari will succeed in achieving a breakthrough with the Myanmar military junta, as evidenced by the continuing campaign of arrests and terror in Myanmar while Gambari continued to call for talks, unless all important players — especially China, India, ASEAN and the UN — do more.

All eyes are also on the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore next month as to how ASEAN is going to translate into action its “revulsion” at the bloody suppression of the saffron revolution last month and the continuing reign of terror in Burma, or whether 40th ASEAN anniversary which is to culminate in the signing of an ASEAN Charter would prove to be empty and meaningless occasion.

34 Replies to ““Never” suspend Myanmar from ASEAN – Hamid’s statement most deplorable and reprehensible”

  2. The Pirates of Carry BN are doing everything they can to let the Myanmar junta stay in power so that the FDI will not go that way. Imagine when Myanmar is democratised and the junta are thrashed, all the FDI will flood into Burma.

  3. i do agree that ASEAN is quite the NATO, as even George Yeo, Singapores’ minister did harshly rebuke the Myanmar military government, they also NATO. allowing the generals to ‘park’ their money in singapore and shopping in the republic while the whole myanmar is burning.

    no action, talk only.

  4. After BURMA, the UN should look into the Human Rights Violation in Malaysia. Its scary when we start to do a comparison with Myanmar with lots of similarity. Except they have not started beating up the monks and priests yet, just tearing down the temples and churches so far.

  5. Thats the other thing about Spore. These Myanmar junta have deposited most of thier ill-gotten money in Spore and some spin-off must have trickled into Malaysia and Indon. So why would ASEAN be in such a hurry to apply pressure on this golden goose.

  6. ASEAN is nothing more that a group of countries formed to make a sort of social club base on tax payer’s money. After all, which other world organization allows it’s members to execute in public a Japaneses jorno or shoot unarmed protectors ?

  9. Syed Hamid-tidak-apa is right!

    Msia is moving that way and we dont want other nations to throw us the same noose when that day come.

    SYed Hamid-tidak-apa doesnt wanna be a hypocrite for that I must take my hats off to him.

  10. For the sake of Petronas investment and JV in Myanmar and the labour business between ELITE group and JUNTA, you think our BN government will really care about this … my foot.
    They would better come out with the favorite statement of “We should not interfere with their internal issue as a form of respect their country ruling party constitutional law”.
    This is Malaysian BN government that only function with respect when there are ‘rewards’ behind the scenes… right ???

    That’s what I like about them … all of them.
    Clowning everyday to get incentives into their own pockets.
    Anyway, Malaysian are easy fools and lazy bunch and most of all, very forgetful with short memory. Easy prey… and political advantages too.

    Why ??
    Angry about your fellow Malaysian ?
    Don’t need so. Some of us too are “ball-less” as the government system are powerful to wipe out your existence without a single sweat.
    Why not ?
    Well, AAS’s case with international attention also can be easily put into their pocket at the expense of our enforcer error and mistake to weaken the case by itself, who are we to the world.
    How come ?
    We have been to naived to allow the government to outreached their network to the entire country agencies.
    Are we fool or been fooled ?
    Either answer also make us sore loser.
    Why can we make a change now ?
    Too late for anything attempt as they have grown to become GIANT powerful creatures with ‘bought’ intellegence.

    Globalization game need a lot in funding to keep at bay with the game. Our ELITE group just taken the right approach to their advantage with the right network with the government to ensure their presence continues.
    What that mean ?
    We just become a ‘passenger’ in our own country when the subject comes to ‘monies’ and power.
    Now what ?
    Keeping blogging our grievences and unhappiness. Keep believe that tomorrow will be a beter day , a new hope for our country future.
    So, how ?
    Do nothing and enjoy your time here like those yuppies that take estacy pills. They claimed to have to dealt with life pressure and no where to turn to. We all know that the ELITE group network are gaining ‘sinful income’ from these weaken group rather than waste the opportunity. After all, the monies are good.
    Law and Order ?
    The saying goes, everyman are for themselves. Malaysian are the best in this.
    So, what ?
    Don’t carelah.
    Spend enough time to enjoy your life and count your blessing that you have witness the best of Malaysian.

  11. I am sorry to say this, but Syed Hamid is an IDIOT for saying Burma will never be expelled!

    1. Who is Syed Hamid to speak on behalf of ASEAN?

    2. Given the terrible atrocities just recently committed, why is Syed Hamid so quick to provide the Burmese junta with such comfort statements?

    3. Even if it is Syed Hamid’s personal belief (that Burma will never be expelled), why is there a need to express it when it serves no useful purpose for the Burmese citizens who are suffering …

    4. Does Syed Hamid even have a dose of caring for humanity?

    5. How much does Syed Hamid expects to be paid for for saying such statements? Is Burmese humanity for sale? Does Syed Hamid has any moral values, or everything is for sale?

    It is totally disgusting that our leaders should behave like this. Syed Hamid should be sacked or resign immediately! A total shame for representing Malaysia! He does not have a single ounce of my vote of confidence at all.

    Old Observer.

  12. Why did Syed Hamid did it? Because he suffers from the UMNOtocrats disease – arrogantitis gigantus. Its a disease borned out of speaking so much about themselves and their opinion to people who cannot criticize them and act against them that they end up believing that they are actually as smart as their mouth sounds to them…

  14. It looks like Hamid is trying very hard to outdo Nazri for the “Mr Moron 2007” title.

    Don’t forget, Samy Vellu, Kong Choy, Keng Yaik, K Vias, Pidah, heck the whole jing bang crowd are also in contention.

    How about a joint award?

  15. Bigjoe : “arrogantitis gigantus”

    Not forgetting the ingrained Arabitis proclivity for using superlatives. Just because a wears a suit and not a turban does not necessary mean that he is not similarly infected.

  16. “..…//….ASEAN will never suspend Myanmar despite its bloody crackdown on mass protests….//…” – Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. “If you want Myanmar to continue to be engaged, first we should not be talking about suspending. Nobody can talk when you are threatening with all sorts of things,” he added.

    Hamid is talking platitudes. ASEAN has been exploring “constructive engagement” for 10 years since Myanmar was officially admitted to ASEAN membership in 1997 to no avail, without an iota of result to show for it!

    Yet Hamid is saying the truth in one other respect, that (1) it is actually the case that ASEAN will always treat renegade Myanmar with kids glove (“NATO”, Talk only, No Action) and (2) whether it ought or not ought to be the case, thats another question……Lets deal with (2) first before (1).

    (2) WHY IT OUGHT NOT TO BE THE CASE:

    Once, ASEAN was conceived as purely regional economic bloc focusing only on ASEAN countries economic integration, linkages and complementarities. It is now no more that alone. An ASEAN Charter was declared on 12/12/2005 in KL, the final draft of which will be deliberated and endorsed in the next ASEAN summit on 20 November 2007 in Singapore. The draft specifically includes one of the Charter’s objectives – the “promotion of democracy, human rights and obligations” of which General Than Shwe and his group of Junta cronies are the most flagrant violators. Hamd says there’s no mechanism in ASEAN’s Charter (Constitution) to suspend or expel Myanmar. True, if it is silent about not being able to suspend and expel Myanmar, it is equally silent that ASEAN cannot suspend or expel her. Legal text of constitution aside, ASEAN has the moral justification to do so. Myanmar’s human rights abuse is a disgrace to ASEAN and causes cleavages with the international community endorsing human rights as today’s norms. When Hamid visited Myanmar last year as ASEAN’s envoy with ASEAN’s mandate to check out Myanmar’s reforms if any and to meet, democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s generals gave him, and by extension ASEAN, the rebuff. The message from the generals have always been clear is clear : ASEAN countries need Myanmar for economic benefits (oil and gas that Thailand & Malaysia are interested, arms and deposits of currency that S’pore is interested) but Myanmar’s generals don’t need ASEAN’s patronage (why – because generals are prosperous enough from domestic gems and narcotic trade, and like Zimbabwe’s dictator, Mugabe could indulge in violent misrule and yet snub the nose at international community that you and your sanctions can go the hell!) Don’t forget in 1997, Myanmar’s generals briefly freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from jail to indicate that it was loosening its grip and willing to move towards free elections. It was on this basis Myanmar was admitted to ASEAN. Now the violent suppression of the “saffron” demonstration evinces that the raison de etre of Mymar’s admission into ASEAN is no more – why can’t Myanmar not be expelled from ASEAN for grave misrepresentation of the move towards democracy?

    (1) WHY IS MYANMAR BEING TREATED WITH KIDS GLOVE:

    Short answer: Because those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. ASEAN leaders are interested in Crony Capitalism – not abstract Human Rights! To take forceful action against Myanmar will only get a retort from the generals whether ASEAN leaders are any better in terms of human rights not to mention set a precedent for action to be taken against each of themselves in the future, then how? The “Saffron” protests in Burma were the biggest since a popular uprising in 1988, and according to the BBC, the singular major catalyst that sparked the protests was the15 August decision by the Generals to increase the price of fuel, causing petrol and diesel to double in price, while the cost of compressed gas – used to power buses – increased five-fold. Now Malaysia also withdrew fuel subsidies that resulted in an across the board cost push inflation but we were too polite (or divided) to demonstrate, but next hike, who knows, the riot and baton wielding police would come out in full force to clobber and bash a few heads and then would Hamid want our ASEAN neighbors or the Myanmar Generals to ask the Malaysian government to resign for human rights abuses? Come on!

    Singapore is the most economically advanced member in ASEAN, yet she has no Human Rights Commission like the cases of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Socialist Vietnam. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand have human rights commissions but they are only for show to bolster image and appease western critics. Which is why human rights commissions in (say) 2 of ASEAN nations – Indonesia and Malaysia – were started paradoxically by strong arm dictators like President Suharto and ex premier TDM to showcase, give a measure of legitimacy to and fend of international criticisms of their otherwise tarnished human rights records, in the case of Suharto to ameliorate outrage at the 1991 massacre in then-Indonesian-occupied East Timor, and TDM, the sacking, incarceration of and black eye to Anwar Ibrahim…

    Singapore’s Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim was forthright when he told the Singapore Parliament recently that, “I do not see the human rights body affecting Singapore’s domestic laws,” he said. “I think we need to take into account quite critically what is the history, the realities and culture of all the 10 ASEAN members states.” By “ realities and culture” I take him to mean the feudal culture of the people to ‘kow tow’ to and take human rights abuses from their leaders!

    Which is why ASEAN leaders always seek refuge in the other expressed objective of ASEAN’s Charter of “non interference of each other’s internal affairs” – boy, how else can they otherwise continue to reap economic benefits from Crony Capitalism from each other’s economies?

    The end of World War II saw the mushrooming of international and regional organizations where two international norms evolve – the first is Human and women rights promoted by First World principally Western countries and the second, the norm of “non interference of each other’s internal affairs” promoted by post-colonial states recently ataining independence.

    Then weak and floundering, these new colonial independent governments argued they faced great domestic challenges, both economic and political and military so how could they develop and participate meaningfully in the international community of nations if they were given space and all the time contend with interference from their neighbors?

    ASEAN countries take sanctuary under this second norm of “domestic non interference” and play ball with the wealthier western nations by also adopting human and women rights which is why the ASEAN Charter espouses both principles but does not clarify which has priority as governing imperative in an event of conflict! Meanwhile talk about human rights, let others do the work, whilst we all make money! How clever!

  17. For more than 15 years, ASEAN have been trying to resolve the Burmese problems via diplomatic means and still all came to naughts. I say, its time we kick them out. For our Foreign Minister to say otherwise and that taking a hardened stand would only serve to harden the Burmese generals, is he saying that taking the soft approach will work? By playing footsie with these generals, we are now fast becoming an accessory to the crime committed by them – the murdering of the poor Burmese people and the monks and nuns. The blood will now be on our Foreign Minister’s hands.

  18. Our Foreign Minister is occasionally a smart but constantly a dirty poltician. He is preparing for the next general election. In case Umno loses the next time, you will sure see another “crack down” or incident similar to May 13. Then he needs all other ASEAN members to “stay away” from the internal affairs of Malaysia. Its all about staying in power. Our ministers, from the prime minister down to the government officials has only their own vested interest in mind.
    There are times when these people are not stupid.

  19. No, you see you do not understand, huh , Syed Hamid? Malaysia speaks for ASEAN , why not for as long as Malaysia digs its heels in no action can be taken against Burma. Not that anything much will come out of any diplomatic slap on the hand. But, at least the Burmese junta will be made the pariahs of the civilised world. Malaysia? Why? Does our economic self-interests [meaning the well connected few]blind us to the sufferings of the multitudes in Burma? Or is it the powers that be are only too aware they are not that many steps to reach the level of the military junta in Burma??

  20. Who is going to listen and be bothered about what Hamid Albar or for that Malaysia says?

    Hamid Albar could not even answer intelligently on hard talk!

    And malaysia is the land of blowing up models, and major misappropriation of public funds, and the criminals walk free, and even have political posts.

    So…who bothers what Malaysia barks!…my apologies to dogs!

  22. Is Hamid and Malaysia against the UN?

    ”
    UN envoy wants ‘real action’ from Asean on Myanmar

    Wed, Oct 17, 2007
    AFP

    KUALA LUMPUR – UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari wants Southeast Asian nations to turn their rhetoric on Myanmar into real action to achieve reforms, a senior source briefed by the diplomat said Wednesday.

    The diplomatic source said Gambari wants to ‘see what ASEAN governments are really prepared to do’ to resolve the crisis in Myanmar following its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

    ‘It is not enough for ASEAN countries to make statements expressing concern. They must now work together with the UN, China and India,’ the source told AFP, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    ‘Gambari wants ASEAN to be really involved in monitoring what is happening in Myanmar, not just statements from conference to conference.’ The source was briefed by Gambari in Malaysia, where the UN envoy arrived Tuesday on a regional tour.

    The regime in Myanmar has come under heavy international pressure since it violently suppressed pro-democracy protests last month led by Buddhist monks, triggering condemnation from around the world.

    Gambari’s regional tour is aimed at increasing pressure on the ruling junta to halt its suppression of the peaceful rallies, release political detainees and launch talks with the pro-democracy opposition.

    The diplomatic source said the Nigerian-born envoy wanted Southeast Asian governments – who have been criticised in the past for failing to tackle their troublesome neighbour – to step up to a new level of engagement on Myanmar.

    ‘ASEAN members must be persistent and monitor, and make sure that expected discussions between the Myanmar government and the opposition and other parties actually take place,’ he said.

    ‘In the past, this was all left to the Myanmar government. This must now change.’ Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Tuesday after talks with Gambari that the envoy had the full support of ASEAN, but that the bloc would never suspend Myanmar from the grouping.

    ‘If you want Myanmar to continue to be engaged, first we should not be talking about suspending. Nobody can talk when you are threatening with all sorts of things,’ he said.

    Gambari met Wednesday with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and was due to hold a press conference later.

    He is due to fly on to Indonesia, India, China and Japan. He aims to return to Myanmar by mid-November. — AFP

    “

  24. What is the use. Small talk here. Big talk there in UN. All it takes to solve the problem is to have US park two of her aircraft carrier off the coast of Burma and precision bomb the home of the top 5 generals. End of story. Ang SSY can do the rest.

  25. chew km, you hit the nail on the head. Malaysia will never “suspend” Myanmar for the simple reason that it will not want other ASEAN countries to interfere here, should they decide to do a crackdown.

    Besides, there are monetary interests at stake. Thus, the idea here would be to screw freedom, democracy and decency in exchange for greedy profits.

  29. Well, if you believe the news on page 4 of The Star 18th Oct, UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari said “he had a good meeting and substantive discussions” with our PM on how best ASEAN could “support and complement” UN’s efforts, and decision for now is like what Hamid said, “the United Nations will not compel ASEAN to suspend Myanmar as member but instead encourage it to remain engaged with the junta government to restore democratic process and respect for human rights in the country”.

    Hamid must feel particularly vindicated and ask what’s so “deplorable and reprehensible” about his earlier declaration that ASEAN would never suspend ASEAN when the UN through its Special Envoy endorses this policy of constructive engagement?

    The United Nation is an impotent organisation. What do you expect it to do against Myanmar generals? Any action requires unanimous consent of the big Five permanent members in UN Security Council, and China will sure veto when Myanmar generals throw gas and oil contracts at her!

    The history of UN itself is impotence. Sanction of limited force has only been carried out for the most limited cases of genocide (eg Congo) but always never against repressive regimes in violation of human rights – see what has been done in Dafur or in Balkans where 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were slaughtered in Srebrenica by General Ratko Mladic’s Bosnian Serb army? Only when big brother – the United States and her ally Britain – had strong economic or geopolitical interest (as in the case of Saddam Hussein and Iraq’s oil – that the UN moved its finger!

    Why the Commission of Human Rights of the UN itself is filled by members of supposedly “good standing” from countries like Nigeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Nepal with deplorable human rights records. How can one appoint foxes to guard the hen house?

    The UN itself is stewed in corruption and case in point is how Saddam Hussein could manipulate the UN’s Oil-for-Food Programme with illegal financial kickbacks from politicians/cronies in 66 U.N. member states.

    At lower level its “kaki tangan” peccadilloes don’t even reach international news. UN officials throw lavish parties more often than save the world – ask those who have served there. What have they done to investigate punish for example abuses like the French U.N. logistics expert in the Democratic Republic of Congo making pornographic videos with young girls in December 2004; or two Russian U.N. peacekeeping pilots based in Mbandaka, Congo, taped sex sessions with minors and paid them with jars of mayonnaise and jam, and other cases of sexual abuse? The list goes on.

    The reason why I mention it is that one may whack Malaysian government and officials for greed, corruption, hypocrisy, sexual abuse of minors blah blah blah but at the end of the day all these are universal human traits or failings, if you will, all around the world in different guises and forms hardly unique to Malaysian politicians, though our fellas are sometimes not so inept in camouflaging their human foibles and failings, and the UN is the microcosm of the goings on (hypocrisy where human rights is NATO to look good but the reality is that power and the quest for money rule the day, here and everywhere) – and that includes Myanmar which General Than Shwe and his group of Junta cronies knew very well!

    So don’t get so worked up. :) We can’t change human nature of people in power whether in Malaysia, ASEAN or the world or the UN over night : look back it takes millenniums for us to travel from Dark Ages to now, and will take millenniums to go forward to a higher level of human thinking and conduct respecting equality and rights.

  30. Come on guys, do you know how much the ELITE can made by allowing the Myanmar people to work in Malaysia ?
    There is a huge business on labour intensive program that only the Ministry can approve, something like AP. Just imagine every head, they get certain commission (maybe RM200.00) and each AP can bring in 500 heads …… banyak kaya lor …
    With the network JV in Myanmar “ELITE” group, they can make tons of monies….. siapa tak mahu.
    Like the recent KLIA stories, there could be a valid reason that those labour are brought in just to fulfilled the qouta of the AP and couldn’t be bother whether there are real jobs for these people or not….. Malaysia Boleh.
    We will never see the light ofthe truth in this scam as the ELITE group have covered up the issue ‘neatly’ and ‘clean’.
    So, wherever there are still monies to be milk by ELITE group, there will be enough stories to entertain us. Don’t worry.

  34. The spudhead FM seems to mainly represent the arch-type ugly malaysian ever ready with his kneejerk response to show show off “national independence” couched in shallowly disguised braggadocio. Little much more.

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