Southeast Asian nations today endorsed Burma today for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling the isolated country can stick to reforms begun this year that could lead it out of half a century of isolation.
Burma's chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), announced at a summit of its leaders in Bali, is a risky gambit for the regional grouping.
While it gives the country coveted international recognition, it could backfire by provoking Western boycotts of Asean events in 2014 if Burma's new government backslides on reforms and fails to convince the United States and Europe to end sanctions imposed in response to abuses by its former military rulers.
US president Barack Obama warned Burma must still demonstrate improvements in human rights in his first remarks since the authoritarian regime freed hundreds of political prisoners in October and vowed more reforms in the weeks ahead.
"Some political prisoners have been released. The government has begun a dialogue. Still, violations of human rights persist," Mr Obama said in a speech to the Australian parliament ahead of joining Asian leaders on the Indonesian resort island of Bali for an East Asia summit.
"So we will continue to speak clearly about the steps that must be taken for the government of Burma to have a better relationship with the United States."
A senior Burma home ministry official said yesterday the new civilian government was ready to release more political prisoners after freeing about 230 activists on October 12th, one of several indications that reforms may be underway after elections last year ended five decades of military rule.
Recent overtures by Burma's government have included calls for peace with ethnic minority groups, some tolerance of criticism, the suspension of an unpopular Chinese-funded dam project and the legalisation 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 is expected to decide tomorrow whether to re-register as a political party to contest imminent by-elections.
The United States and Europe have said that freeing political prisoners is one of several preconditions to lifting sanctions that have isolated Burma and driven it closer to China. Other conditions include peace with the country's many ethnic groups after decades of sporadic unrest.
Mr Obama was in Australia ahead of joining Asian leaders in Bali for the East Asia Summit and to signal a closer US engagement with the Asia-Pacific.
Ms Suu Kyi's party said Burma's expected Asean chairmanship would help to drive political change.
"Their decision is tantamount to encouraging the present Burma government to step up the momentum for reforms," Nyan Win, a senior official in Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, said.
"Burma's political activities will become more vibrant after assuming the chair and Burma will also become a quality member of Asean."
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said last Friday that Burma appeared to be making some "real changes" to its political system, but the United States wanted to see more reform before embracing the country formerly known as Burma.
Ms Clinton noted reports of "substantive dialogue" between the government and Ms Suu Kyi and changes in the country's laws on labour and political party registration.
Burma's new government has responded by urging the United States to lift sanctions, describing its reforms as genuine, a line echoed by Mr Natalegawa, who said the changes were "irreversible" after visiting the country last month.
Reuters