Burma’s military government is still preparing to take over the Asean chairmanship in 2006, despite the regional and international debate about its suitability.

Nyan Win

Work has been going on without interruption since 2003 on the construction of dozens of high buildings in downtown Rangoon and its suburbs in a program intended to present the capital as a modern Asian city when the Asean summit is held there next year. The government has set a deadline for all buildings to be finished by the end of this year or early next year.

Many existing buildings, including Yangon [Rangoon] Trade Center at Pazundaung township, are being renovated in preparation for Asean meetings, said witnesses in Rangoon.

According to a journalist of a weekly journal in Rangoon, a high ranking official of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism said that meetings related to tourism would be discussed in the renovated Yangon Trade Center.

The journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that roads in Rangoon are also being repaired. The government appeared confident it would take over the Asean chairmanship despite opposition within several circles, the journalist added.

Frustration has been expressed by three Asean founding members—Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore—about the lack of progress towards democracy in Burma and the continuing detention of  National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The junta’s Foreign Minister Nyan Win said yesterday that his country wouldn’t give up its chairmanship despite the opposition of western countries, especially the US. Nyan Win was commenting at a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Cebu, the Philippines.  

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that she will not take part in Asean’s annual ministerial meeting if it is held in Rangoon as scheduled.

Some opposition figures in Rangoon say the Rangoon government is desperate to chair Asean for the prestige it would bring.

Amyotheryei Win Naing said Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win’s recent visits to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam had been aimed at persuading those countries to support Burma’s Asean chairmanship.