Indonesia FM: Myanmar Must Deliver on Reforms

UNITED NATIONS, KOMPAS.com — Indonesia's foreign minister says Myanmar's leaders must be "in good standing" on their commitments to democracy and other promise reforms when the country takes over as chair of Southeast Asia's regional bloc in 2014.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2006 because of intense criticism of its human rights record. But the country was chosen to lead ASEAN in 2014 following its first elections in 20 years, release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, and the easing of some media restrictions.

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa predicted Monday that being in the spotlight as ASEAN chair will "create momentum" for Myanmar's military-dominated government "to deliver even more" on democratic reforms.