During the recent summit meeting in Thailand of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) we witnessed the usual handshakes and smiles on the summit podium.
 
However, behind this front of unity, some civil society groups in the region were shunned, while cronies of the Asean governments and Burma’s repressive regime, were invited to attend an interface meeting between government officials and other civil society groups.
 
Despite this shocking compromise, some officials claimed the summit was a success.
 
The sad fact is that Asean remains a club where bureaucrats, politicians and generals who commit crimes against humanity have little respect for their own citizens. To be blunt, Asean leaders remain ignorant about Burma, if not ill-informed.
 
Recently, we heard a wishful and naïve comment from Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, who was dubbed a shining star when he became Thai foreign minister in 1997.
 
Surin told the Voice of America that Washington's willingness to talk with the Burmese junta opened a “new ball game” for the region. Countries in Southeast Asia were looking forward to seeing adjustments from both sides, he said.
 
“This is a new opportunity. And, all of us in Asean, every member state, recognizes this new opportunity," Surin said. "I think Myanmar [Burma] itself recognizes that this is a golden opportunity for engagement, for interaction, for dialogue, which is well and good. And, I think it's going to be good for the region.”
 
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Asean was pleased that the United States, which maintains strict sanctions against Burma, was now following its lead in trying to engage the junta.
 
“The one thing we all agreed on is that we welcome signs of further engagement in response to some developments in Burma. Asean has always argued that engagement is the right approach,” Abhisit said.
 
We all cautiously welcomed the Washington’s new approach to Burma. However, many remained skeptical whether the regime will make any major concession.
 
In reality, Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia, who is now in Burma meeting regime officials and opposition leaders, cautioned that it will be a step-by-step process and that engagement with Burma will be long and painful.
 
Let’s make it crystal clear once and for all that Asean’s past and present engagement policy with the brutal regime in Burma has gone nowhere. So it is not worth taking credit. Instead, Asean should look at itself in the mirror.
 
Asean’s engagement policy with Burma is rather one of appeasement and economic engagement, exploiting Burma’s natural resources.
 
In return, the regime leaders, who have killed thousands of innocent people and Buddhist monks and keep politicians and activists in jails, conveniently hide behind the Asean shield.
 
At last month’s Asean summit, many media observers and journalists thought that the grouping has allowed the regime to walk away scot-free.
 
Abhisit denied that the group had softened its stance on Burma, having previously issued direct appeals for the release of all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi.
 
“It is not true,” he said. “It was discussed. Everybody agrees that we should help Burma move forward in completing their roadmap so that it will lead to democracy.”
 
Abhisit’s statement again showed Asean’s wishful thinking on the regime’s intentions and its “road map.” It is the constitution that Asean leaders and US leaders should question, because the document only prolongs military rule in Burma. It is a death sentence for many Burmese and ethnic nationalities. 
  
In order to keep its credibility and stance, Asean should spell out its own stand on Burma.
 
It is important that Asean should make clear to Burmese leaders that it will join the US’s financial and targeted sanctions against the regime leaders and their cronies if they fail to take meaningful steps.
 
Surin Pitsuwan and Asean have a golden opportunity in view of the approaching summit meeting in Singapore between Asean and the US, to be attended by US President Barack Obama. 
 
Asean must take a stand and be firm on Burma, demonstrating that the regional grouping’s credibility and reputation are at stake because of the brutal nature of the Burmese regime.
 
Surin and Asean leaders should come out and challenge the regime to free political prisoners and Suu Kyi and make meaningful political progress towards national reconciliation. The Burmese junta should be told that the new ball game is based on reward and punishment.