Indonesia says ASEAN charter rules benefit all

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre L) hands over the signed Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Charter to ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong as they are applauded by the other ASEAN heada of state during a signing ceremony at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore November 20, 2007.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The landmark charter ASEAN leaders are signing on Tuesday enshrines clear rules and objectives on integrating the region and promoting democracy -- including for troublesome member Myanmar, Indonesia's President said.

"The new charter will be of benefit to all members. It is a historic moment because the new charter will address ongoing challenges and opportunities," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told Reuters on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit.

"It will be a rules-based organization with clear rules and objectives," Yudhoyono said before joining fellow leaders for the signing ceremony. On the issue of Myanmar, which has overshadowed the group's charter after the junta brutally suppressed pro-democracy protests, Yudhoyono said: "The chairman has issued a statement and we now have a clear timetable."

ASEAN on Monday called on Myanmar to move towards democracy and release political detainees, after Yangon drew criticism and sanctions from the United States and Europe.

The Philippines said on Monday its Congress might not ratify the charter if Myanmar did not moved towards democracy.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; writing by Neil Chatterjee; editing by Bill Tarrant)