Burmese Exiles to Attend ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Meeting

A group of Burmese exiles says its representatives will join an inter-parliamentary assembly meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma says it has sent a five-member delegation to the meeting in Kuala Lumpur under way this week.

The delegates are to lobby support for democratic change and political reconciliation in military-run Burma.

ASEAN's member nations have adopted a policy of non-interference with Burma, amid growing concern about its alleged human rights abuses and suppression of political activists.

But a sub-group called the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus has urged the 10-member association to do more to help Burma carry out long-awaited political reforms.

Burma has been ruled by a military government since 1962.

The opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections, but the military has never recognized the results.

Burma's military rulers have promised general elections after a new constitution is drafted, but it is not clear when that will happen.