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Asean finalises historic charter Asean finalises historic charter
(about 4 hours later)
South East Asian foreign ministers have agreed new rules for the regional group Asean, committing members to promoting human rights and bolstering democracy.South East Asian foreign ministers have agreed new rules for the regional group Asean, committing members to promoting human rights and bolstering democracy.
The charter is due to be signed at a summit on Tuesday by the bloc's 10 member states, including Burma.The charter is due to be signed at a summit on Tuesday by the bloc's 10 member states, including Burma.
It comes as Susan Schwab, the most senior US trade official, warned that Asean's credibility was at stake over its handling of the crisis in Burma.It comes as Susan Schwab, the most senior US trade official, warned that Asean's credibility was at stake over its handling of the crisis in Burma.
Asean has refused to suspend Burma over the regime's suppression of protests.Asean has refused to suspend Burma over the regime's suppression of protests.
US Senators had called for the suspension until the generals show an improved commitment to human rights. US senators had called for the suspension until the generals showed greater commitment to human rights.
The military government has acknowledged that 15 people died during a crackdown in September on anti-government protests, when security forces fired on crowds and thousands of people were jailed.The military government has acknowledged that 15 people died during a crackdown in September on anti-government protests, when security forces fired on crowds and thousands of people were jailed.
'Part of family''Part of family'
The yearly gathering of the Association of South East Asian Nations is one of the only international summits attended by members of Burma's ruling military council.The yearly gathering of the Association of South East Asian Nations is one of the only international summits attended by members of Burma's ruling military council.
Prime Minister Thein Sein has arrived in Singapore for the occasion, and is expected to face strong pressure to end the military government's repression.
Burma's Thein Sein is representing the junta at the summitBurma's Thein Sein is representing the junta at the summit
Singapore has already defied the junta's wishes by inviting the UN special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, to brief the summit. Prime Minister Thein Sein arrived in Singapore expecting to face strong pressure to end the military government's repression.
And the premiers of India and China, whose influence on Burma could yet be decisive, are also attending. But member states gave an immediate boost to the junta when the UN special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, was refused permission to brief the summit.
The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Singapore, says the prime minister will certainly be told of the need to keep up the dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Host nation Singapore had invited Mr Gambari to speak, but Burma objected and gained the support of all members except the hosts, officials said.
But Asean leaders rarely criticise fellow members in public, and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has already described Burma as "part of the family". "The briefing is off. Myanmar [Burma] feels that they deal with the UN and it is their own domestic matter," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told AFP news agency.
"If you make all these fierce statements and supposing we say we expel Myanmar [Burma] from Asean, what difference does it make?" Mr Lee told the BBC. Singapore has also used conciliatory language in the run-up to the summit, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong describing Burma as "part of the family".
"How will it improve the situation in Myanmar or enhance our influence over the Myanmar government?" "If you make all these fierce statements and supposing we say we expel Myanmar from Asean, what difference does it make?" he told the BBC.
'Special responsibility''Special responsibility'
Meanwhile, the US has been stepping up pressure on Asean to take action against Burma's rulers.Meanwhile, the US has been stepping up pressure on Asean to take action against Burma's rulers.
Ms Schwab, who is in Singapore for the summit, reiterated Washington's concerns on Monday, saying Asean had a "special responsibility" for Burma.Ms Schwab, who is in Singapore for the summit, reiterated Washington's concerns on Monday, saying Asean had a "special responsibility" for Burma.
"The reputation and credibility of Asean as an organisation has been called into question because of the situation in Burma.""The reputation and credibility of Asean as an organisation has been called into question because of the situation in Burma."
She said it could not be "business as usual" while the crisis in Burma continued. She said it could not be "business as usual" while the repression continued.
Rights groups have criticised the bloc's charter, which will codify its rules for the first time in its 40-year history, as too weak to affect Burma's ruling generals.Rights groups have criticised the bloc's charter, which will codify its rules for the first time in its 40-year history, as too weak to affect Burma's ruling generals.
They say the document does not include a mechanism for punishing countries which fail to meet their obligations.They say the document does not include a mechanism for punishing countries which fail to meet their obligations.
Asean is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.Asean is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.