Myanmar set to sign ASEAN rights charter

By Geert De Clercq

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Military-ruled Myanmar is set to sign an ASEAN charter on democracy and human rights next week, ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong said on Saturday.

Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein is due to attend the Association of South East Asian Nations summit, the first appearance by a top junta member at an international forum since the regime's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in September.

"All 10 states will sign," Ong told Reuters in an interview.

The charter -- to be signed on Tuesday -- will give the 40-year-old grouping legal status and spells out lofty goals for democracy and human rights.

"Myanmar has not fought to take out words like 'human rights' and 'democracy'. They are not against putting these down as an aspiration, but they ask for more time," Ong said.

On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to urge ASEAN to suspend Myanmar until the regime shows respect for human rights.

"We cannot resolve this problem with sanctions or a hardline position," said Ong, who is nearing the end of a five-year term.

"If you have a troubled child in the family, you can't send it away to the mental house or sanatorium. I think our leaders' instinct will be to see how ASEAN can help Myanmar."