A Burmese relationship

Recently I attended a couple of modules facilitated by some staff from IDSS.
A while ago, well, actually a rather long while ago, when the last Asean - EU meeting was held, there were pressures from all quarters about Myanmar's membership into ASEAN. Recently, the pressure continued from the other side of the Atlantic - US, with threats promise of continued trade sanctions. Mainly this is because of the poor human rights record in Myanmar, with the military regime still refusing to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all that juicy stuff. While we are not sure how the western way of doing things is actually helping the people in Myanmar, ASEAN countries continue to exert pressure on the Myanmar administration through positive engagement. There are a million and one ways to bring about better lives for the Burmese and the west has chosen one way. While countries in ASEAN work on the other million ways. Myanmar was suppose to hold chairmanship of ASEAN this year stating it is undergoing it's "reform". Earlier this year, Malaysian Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid was suppose to be in Yangon to push the reform but Myanmar postponed the trip indefinitely stating that the country was "busy shifting the capital to Pyinmana". Interesting. New capital. Snubbing the Malaysia Foreign Minister.

Alot of what ASEAN countries can and cannot do is governed by the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation:

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, signed at the First ASEAN Summit on 24 February 1976, declared that in their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties should be guided by the following fundamental principles:

*Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
*The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
*Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
*Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
*Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
*Effective cooperation among themselves.

The above 6 principles pretty much cripple all members in ASEAN when it comes to changing domestic policies of your neighbour. The simple answer to the question of "should we?", is "no".

It's like some relationships. Everything is rosy as long as it is not subjected to external factors. Once that happens, no mechanism exists to counter. What is left is this driver with an empty core called "interest". Is there anything to gain? Is there anything to lose? What effects does it have on the other? What are the short and long term effects? What are the direct intended effects? And may be the indirect unintended effects and all the other permutations you can have with direction and intentions.

And when your working principles are based on mutual respect and non-interference, there isn't much room to maneuver because you shouldn't be asking the question in the first place.