Myanmar was initially scheduled to hold the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship in 2006 but it was forced to forgo the position due to human rights problems.
Later, Myanmar reached an agreement with Laos whose turn to lead the regional grouping would come in 2014 to give its slot to Myanmar.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam would take the ASEAN chair in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Indonesia is the ASEAN Chair for 2011.
To help the ASEAN Summit make a decision on Myanmar`s bid for the chairmanship in 2014, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty M Natalegawa had visited Yangon from October 28 to 30, 2011 with the main purpose of gauging the country`s readiness to chair ASEAN in 2014.
Marty met the chairman of the country`s Human Rights National Commission U Min Wra who was accompanied by several of the commission`s members, the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Assembly Ko Ko Hlaing, and 11 prominent Myanmar civic society figures, including NGO activists, businessmen, pressmen and human rights activists.
The meeting`s participants openly discussed developments in Myanmar`s reform and democratization efforts, possible bilateral cooperation with Indonesia on reform and democratization matters, and Myanmar`s bid to chair ASEAN in 2014.
Marty`s visit was made based on a mandate from the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting that took place in Bali last July, according to the foreign ministry in a press statement last month.
On the second day of his visit, Marty paid a courtesy call on Myanmar President U Thein Sein, and met the Chairman of the Parliament and National Assembly, his Myanmarese counterpart U Wunna Maung Lwin and a few other ministers concerning the three pillars of the ASEAN community. He was also scheduled to have a tete-a-tete with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon on Oct 30.
At the Bali ministerial meeting on November 16, a day prior to the 19th ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN foreign ministers prepared three recommendations to their leaders regarding Yangon`s request to be the grouping`s chairman in 2014.
Briefing members of the media covering the 19th ASEAN Summit after chairing an ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting, Marty said the first recommendation was that the ministers welcomed the `positive developments` that had happened in Myanmar in 2011.
Secondly, the ministers underlined the significance of maintaining the momentum in Myanmar and the need to follow it up, he added.
The third recommendation was that the ministers were of the opinion that the positive developments in Myanmar would help create conducive conditions for ASEAN`s decision on Myanmar`s request.
The Indonesian foreign minister emphasized that the recent positive developments, the past situations in Myanmar and the follow ups (pledged by Myanmar) were conditions that would influence the decision to be taken by the ASEAN leaders.
Based on the foreign ministers` recommendations, the ASEAN leaders unanimously approved Myanmar`s proposal to let it assume the chairmanship in 2014.
"The leaders of ASEAN... have formally expressed the view and reached their consensus that designates Myanmar as chair of ASEAN in 2014," Minister Marty said.
Marty said ASEAN leaders expressed positive views on developments that had taken place in Myanmar during the past few months such as the release of political prisoners and improvements in the democratization process.
The minister said the ASEAN leaders also emphasized the need for Myanmar to maintain the momentum and asked the Myanmar government to ensure the continuity of the democratization process.
The agreement was reached after a series of meetings led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the first day of the 19th ASEAN Summit.
"All leaders are in agreement that significant changes, significant developments, have taken place in Myanmar and those changes have made it more conducive for Myanmar to carry out this responsibility," Marty said.
It was also hoped that the prospect of becoming the ASEAN chair in 2014 would encourage Myanmar to continue to proceed on a course of positive developments, he said.
"There is inherent in this sentiment to closely monitor the developments in Myanmar because ASEAN wants to ensure that in 2014, Myanmar will be more than where they are now, towards more democratization," he added.
Reuters reported that the ASEAN leaders` decision was hailed by Myanmarese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi`s party.
An official in Suu Kyi`s party said Myanmar`s expected ASEAN chairmanship would help to drive more political change. "Their decision is tantamount to encouraging the present Myanmar government to step up the momentum for reforms," Nyan Win, a senior NLD official, told Reuters. "Myanmar`s political activities will become more vibrant after assuming the chair."
Myanmar`s government has made some reforms which have included a call for peace with ethnic minority groups, some tolerance of criticism, and the legalization of labour unions.
President Thein Sein has also reached out to democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was freed last year from 15 years of house arrest. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to decide soon whether to re-register as a political party to contest imminent by-elections.
International political observer Hariyadi Wiryawan in Jakarta also responded positively to the approval on the Myanmar`s bid for the ASEAN Chairmanship.
"I think Myanmar is ready to become the ASEAN Chair. Those which are not ready are in fact other countries," Hariyadi said.
He believed it is the time for Myanmar to receive trust and appreciation for the reforms that have been happening in that country, although the changes are being done gradually.
The Western nations` measures by imposing sanctions and embargo on Myanmar did not bring any result, anyway, he said. (*)
Reporter: By Fardah
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
