Southeast Asia nations tackle Myanmar, but softly

MANILA, July 30 (Reuters) Southeast Asian foreign ministers called on Myanmar today to restore democracy and overcame objections from the military-ruled nation on setting up a regional human rights body.

A joint communique issued at the end of a one-day meeting of ministers from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) also demanded Myanmar release political detainees, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

However, in a nod to the sensitivities of Myanmar's military junta, the document did not name Suu Kyi, 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.

BLACK SHEEP Myanmar has been called ASEAN's black sheep and the furore over its dismal human rights record has threatened to divert attention from the group's efforts at economic integration.

ASEAN is writing a landmark charter to become more rules-based, and setting up a human rights body is a part of the document.

Ministers said they overcame opposition from four nations led by Myanmar on the rights body.

''At the ministers' level we have a consensus,'' Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo told reporters. ''Myanmar had a positive attitude towards all of this.'' He said the ministers had yet to decide on terms of reference and other specifics, but would do so soon.

Diplomats said the differences over the human rights body had only been papered over.

One diplomat privy to the discussions said Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei -- the six older members of ASEAN -- persuaded Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to accept the deal in principle.

Myanmar had opposed the idea, while the three Indochina nations had asked for more time, the diplomat said. But the differences were essentially swept under the carpet and left for the region's presidents and prime ministers to decide.

''There is no time-frame, there is no agreement on form and substance,'' the diplomat said. ''And everything has to be agreed to by the leaders.'' The charter is to be presented at a leaders' summit in November.

Yeo also said the leaders would decide on differences over whether ASEAN should abandon its time-honoured way of resolving issues by consensus or put them to a vote. They would also take a decision on how to penalise members who violate the charter.

REUTERS PD RN1856