SE Asia bloc tackles rights and Myanmar, but softly

MANILA, July 30 (Reuters) Southeast Asian foreign ministers hailed as historic an agreement today to create a regional human rights body, but the grouping stuck to its traditionally subdued criticism of Myanmar's military junta.

The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has long been derided by the West for its failure to tackle its most notorious member, also sidestepped working out the mandate and scope of a future rights body.

One diplomat privy to discussions said differences over the body had been papered over to get ASEAN's newer members -- Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam -- to agree to its creation.

''This is a victory for human rights,'' the Philippines' foreign secretary, Alberto Romulo, told reporters.

He insisted no country could opt out of joining the rights body, which he said would be established once leaders ratified a mini-constitution for ASEAN in November.

Southeast Asia is hoping a charter will transform ASEAN, whose members include an absolute monarchy and communist states, into a rules-based organisation better able to compete against the growing economic might of China and India.

But differences have already emerged on whether ASEAN should abandon its time-honoured way of resolving issues by consensus or put them to a vote -- seen as key if the bloc wants to speed up regional economic integration by 2015.

Romulo said a decision on voting procedures as well as whether wayward members could be sanctioned would be decided by leaders when they agree on the charter in November.

Foreign ministers agreed on the first draft of the mini-constitution at today's meeting in the Philippines, which holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN.

''The leaders will determine by themselves how to proceed,'' said Romulo, adding that the first draft was just ''the point of reference''.

TANGIBLE PROGRESS A joint communique issued at the end of the meeting showed that the 40-year old bloc, which has a policy of non-interference in its members' internal affairs, was still using a ''softly-softly'' approach against Myanmar.

While ASEAN called for the the release of political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi, it did not name the Nobel laureate, but referred to her as the leader of the NLD (National League for Democracy).

''We urged Myanmar to show tangible progress that would lead to a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future,'' the communique said.

''While recognising the steps taken by the Myanmar government to release the leader of the NLD, we continue to express concern on the detention of all political detainees and reiterate our calls for their early release.'' Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told Reuters the ministers were forthright in demanding Suu Kyi's release during the closed-door meeting.

''I think we have made very strong comments that we wanted to see something that can be believed, that is acceptable to the ASEAN community,'' he said. He said Myanmar did not say when Suu Kyi could be freed.

An estimated 1,100 political prisoners are believed to be behind bars in the former Burma. Suu Kyi, 62, has been confined for more than 11 of the past 17 years. Her latest detention began in 2003.

REUTERS PD HT1940