Clinton urges ASEAN to review policy toward Myanmar

BANGKOK, July 22 (TNA) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should consider expelling Myanmar from the regional grouping if the ruling junta doesn’t release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Asked during an interview with Thailand's Nation TV whether ASEAN should exclude the military-ruled member state if it does not free Aung San Suu Kyi, Clinton said it would be an appropriate policy change to consider.

Myanmar put imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi on trial over violating her house arrest term after an American man swam to her lakeside house in Yangon.

Clinton gave an interview before flying to Thailand's Andaman resort island of Phuket on Wednesday to meet her counterpart from ASEAN and to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum on Thursday.

"We know that there are also growing concerns about military co-operation between North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously. It would be destabilising for the region, it would pose a direct threat to Burma's neighbours.

And it is something as a treaty ally of Thailand that we are taking very seriously," the US top diplomat said, referring to the possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Myanmar.

Arriving in Thailand from India on Tuesday, Clinton will meet her counterparts from Russia, China, Japan and South Korea to discuss resumption of the stalled six-party talks on North Korean nuclear disarmament.

Myanmar and North Korea issues are expected during Clinton’s talks with ASEAN at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Phuket.

The US top diplomat will sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) with ASEAN foreign ministers Wednesday at a meeting in Phuket.

Thailand is hosting the ASEAN ministerial meeting and ARF from July 16- 23 amid tightened military security to prevent any disruption. (TNA)