ASEAN countries refuse to hear UN enoy

SINGAPORE – Southeast Asian countries opposed a plan for UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to brief a regional summit about the political developments in military-ruled Myanmar, delegates said yesterdaday.

Host Singapore invited Gambari to address the East Asian Summit on Wednesday about the progress he has made in his meetings with Myanmar’s junta in recent weeks. The summit brings together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar, and six others: China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.Myanmar objected to the briefing and other ASEAN countries, except Singapore, supported Myanmar, a senior Malaysian official told Malaysian journalists.The Associated Press heard a recording of the interview.”We do not agree to Gambari having a special session.If he wants to meet individually then go ahead, but don’t use the summit,” said the official.He spoke on condition he was not identified because it would embarrass Singapore.An Indonesian official also said the invitation to Gambari was unacceptable.”When they (Singapore) extended the invitation to Gambari they did not consult others.At least Indonesia opposed the plan,” said the official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.Faced with such strong opposition, Singapore was likely to call off the briefing.Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was expected to announce it later Monday, according to the Malaysian official.Gambari began pushing Myanmar’s junta to restart political reconciliation with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in September that left at least 15 people dead.Nampa-APThe summit brings together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Myanmar, and six others: China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.Myanmar objected to the briefing and other ASEAN countries, except Singapore, supported Myanmar, a senior Malaysian official told Malaysian journalists.The Associated Press heard a recording of the interview.”We do not agree to Gambari having a special session.If he wants to meet individually then go ahead, but don’t use the summit,” said the official.He spoke on condition he was not identified because it would embarrass Singapore.An Indonesian official also said the invitation to Gambari was unacceptable.”When they (Singapore) extended the invitation to Gambari they did not consult others.At least Indonesia opposed the plan,” said the official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.Faced with such strong opposition, Singapore was likely to call off the briefing.Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was expected to announce it later Monday, according to the Malaysian official.Gambari began pushing Myanmar’s junta to restart political reconciliation with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in September that left at least 15 people dead.Nampa-AP