July 23, 2003.

Thailand based human rights NGO network condemned Thai government for proposing Burma to become member of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) while welcoming the support of Indonesia and Malaysia for international efforts to solve problems in Burma and to pressure the Burma's military regime, mentioned in the July 22 media release.

"The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) is concerned by comments made by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday indication that Thailand will propose Burma be admitted to the Asia-Europe Meeting", mentioned in the media release.

According to Reuters' report, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai stated that Laos, Burma and Cambodia had been invited to ASEM meeting to talk on Burma.

The UN special envoy Mr. Razali Ismail, only foreign diplomat who got a chance to meet Aung San Suu Kyi after imprisonment, was also invited by Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to attend the ASEM meeting.

Participants to the ASEM include the Heads of State and Government of ten Asian nations (Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and fifteen European nations (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), as well as the President of the European Commission.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned Burma might have to be expelled from the ASEAN grouping if the regime continues to defy world pressure to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, reportedly said in AFP wire news.

ASEM will meet in Bali today and tomorrow. The leaders of the European Union (EU) are expected to raise the recent attack of government-backed mob to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in upper part of Burma and imprisonment of her.

Network Media Group