Vietnam suffers due to typhoon Ketsana; Earthquake measuring 7.6 strikes Sumatra; At the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers meeting, Burmese Foreign Minister promises ‘free and fair’ elections in 2010
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    • Typhoon Ketsana wrecked havoc in Vietnam with over 160 people losing their lives and around 170,000 people were rendered homeless1. The Indonesian island of Sumatra was also struck by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on October 1. Casualties in the quake were estimated to be in their thousands2.

    At a meeting of Foreign Ministers from Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in Siem Reap province on October 3, Burmese Foreign Minister U Nyan Win promised a “free and fair” election in his country to be held next year but added that “democracy cannot be imposed from putside.” Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on his part hoped that “Aung San Suu Kyi will be released and transparent elections will be conducted with the participation of all political parties3." A Burmese court meanwhile rejected an appeal by Suu Kyi against the extension of her house arrest for another eighteen months. The sentence would effectively sideline Suu Kyi from taking an active part in the election4.

    US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that the US was willing to reciprocate the Burmese leadership’s recent interest in improving its bilateral relations with Washington. Campbell told reporters at the State Department that the US intended “to begin a direct dialogue with Burmese authorities to lay out the path to better relations." He however added that the US would not immediately ease sanctions and would press for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi5.

    In Thailand, the Senate, opposition and government whips have consented to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s recent proposal for a public referendum to change the charter of the Constitution. Mr. Vejjajiva has to decide whether the referendum will be held before or after the election6.

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