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SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has stressed that ASEAN cannot credibly remain silent or uninvolved in what's happening in Myanmar.
Mr Lee highlighted this when he called the leaders of six ASEAN countries on Thursday to "express Singapore's deep concern over the very grave situation in Myanmar".
Mr Lee called ASEAN leaders Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The leaders agreed with Mr Lee that ASEAN should put out a clear statement urging the Myanmarese authorities to exercise restraint.
They also urged Myanmar to find a political solution for national reconciliation without resorting to violence.
Singapore, as Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee, has been consulting the other ASEAN countries on the situation in Myanmar.
Mr Lee told the six ASEAN leaders that the current confrontation in Myanmar would have implications for ASEAN and the whole region.
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the other ASEAN leaders have expressed similar concerns. They also agreed on the importance of the mission to Myanmar by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
They also concurred that the Myanmar regime should accept Mr Gambari's visit and cooperate with the UN to find a peaceful solution.
In New York, where the UN General Assembly is currently in session, Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo is consulting with his ASEAN counterparts on a coordinated ASEAN response. - CNA /ls
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