Timor-Leste downplays Myanmar's objection to its ASEAN membership
Timor-Leste has dismissed Myanmar's reported objection to it becoming the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as 'inconsequential and irrelevant.'Myanmar has formally objected to Timor-Leste's accession to the Southeast Asian regional bloc, accusing Dili of violating the bloc's core principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other nations, media reports said on July 2.President José Ramos-Horta dismissed the accusation as inconsequential, while reaffirming that the path to full membership of ASEAN has already been secured.'Myanmar's opposition is irrelevant. The formal decision for Timor-Leste to join ASEAN has already been made and is reflected in the final communiqué,' said Ramos-Horta, adding that the 'ceremony to mark our full membership is scheduled for the ASEAN Summit in October this year.''If the ASEAN Chair wishes, they may respond to Myanmar's objection, but preparations for Timor-Leste's accession are well underway,' he added.
Media reports said Myanmar submitted an official letter to Malaysia, the current ASEAN Chair, asserting that Timor-Leste "does not adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter."
Valentin da Costa, executive director of the Timor-Leste NGO Forum (FONGTIL), also pushed back against Myanmar's accusations, saying the objection stems from Timor-Leste's consistent support for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
Timor-Leste's firm support for democratic values in Myanmar has been consistent. In August 2023, Prime Minister Gusmão warned that his country might reconsider its ASEAN membership bid if the bloc continued legitimizing military regimes.
As preparations continue for Timor-Leste's formal ASEAN induction this October, the country positions itself not only as the bloc's newest member but also as a vocal advocate for human rights, civic freedoms, and democratic integrity in Southeast Asia.--ucanews.com
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