Simonia Aida

Mynanmar has played the ASEAN card

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2011, №17, 170-188

 
Annotation: Myanmar has decided to play the ASEAN card in an effort to put an end to international isolation and improve its international image. Soon after political power was officially transferred to a new civilian government president Thein Sein addressed to the ASEAN secretariat asking the organization to accept Myanmar's bid to assume the 2014 Association chairmanship. In spite of the president's positive initiatives and some democratic steps human rights violations and oppression continue unabated. There is important unresolved problem − political prisoners in the country. Nevertheless Myanmar was rewarded in November 2011 for its conciliatory gestures with the ASEAN chair in 2014 despite human rights groups saying the move was premature.

Keywords: MYANMAR, ASEAN, THE ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP, PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN, POLITICAL PRISONERS, PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE, AMNESTY, NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY COUNCIL, MYANMAR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION