Burma has decided not to take over the Asean chair in 2006 as its military government wants to concentrate on national issues, Asean foreign ministers announced in a joint statement from Vientiane today.

Immediately, concerned groups praised the Burmese action but they still want more to be done to correct the democratic and human rights situation in the country.

When contacted, Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Democracy in Burma head Zaid Ibrahim said the move was a positive step to bring more changes to Burma and the region.

"It is a good development. It shows that Asean leaders are listening to the people. However, the chair is not everything. Myanmar (Burma) still has to do other things like bringing about reforms in the country and release its political prisoners.

"They have to do that and hopefully it will bring credibility and stability to the region," the Malaysian parliamentarian said.

The caucus were among many local, regional and international groups and governments which have been urging Asean to bar Burma from chairing the bloc next year.

The 10-member regional grouping rotates its chair alphabetically every 12 months and Burma was due to take over from Malaysia but the Asean Ministerial Meeting, held in the Laotian capital, has decided that Philippines will take over next year.

Save face

On the reason that the military regime desired to concentrate on its national issues instead, Debbie Stothard, head of Altsean Burma, an advocate for democracy in Burma, said it was a face-saving gesture extended to the junta.

"They had to say that. What we're delighted with is that Asean has finally found its backbone. This announcement will demoralise the regime in Rangoon as the junta views compromise as a sign of weakness," she said when contacted.

Stothard added that the repressed ethnic groups and pro-democracy movements in Burma would be encouraged by the news.

"We may even see effects of this unfolding over the next few months. It's a blow to the Burmese regime as General Than Shwe (current political head) saw an opportunity to strengthen his economic power and control of the country with the Asean chairmanship," she added.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Josef Roy Benedict said that the calls and efforts to release over a thousand political prisoners in Burma must not end with this development.

"What we need to see now is real concrete changes within the country. Asean has to play yet a stronger role in pushing for more reforms particularly the (Burmese) National Convention which should be representative of all parties elected in its 1990 general election," he said.

In the elections, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory while smaller ethnic-based parties also secured government seats. However, none have been allowed to assume control of the state by the military.

Icon still not released

Many of the parties' leaders - including Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi - have been held in prisons for lengthy periods.

"(Burma) must release from prisons, and those under house arrests, all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. The recent release of (over 200) prisoners seems a superficial change as many had their jail terms expiring.

"There is a certain amount of progress there but a lot of concrete steps need to be taken to bring about reforms," added Benedict.

Detractors have long called on Burmese leaders to free the nation's democratic icon Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since May 2003. This is her third stint under arrest in her 16-year fight for democracy.

Benedict, Stothard and Zaid all agreed that Burma's passing over of the chairmanship came about from strong pressure among Asean member states, concerned organisations and members of the public.

"Regionally, this could be a sign that Asean is capable of changing the way it operates. The pro-democracy and human rights movement in the region should feel hopeful that more breakthroughs are possible," added Stothard.

Burma will have the option to assume the chairmanship anytime it has settled its national issues.