Regional Ministers to tackle Myanmar

Asean foreign ministers headed to Cebu City Saturday to discuss whether military-ruled Myanmar should be stripped of next year’s chairmanship of the regional bloc due to growing international opposition to its dismal human-rights record.

Officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said no clear solution was in sight. One diplomat warned that Western nations could boycott the 10-nation trade group’s economic and security meetings and threaten to withhold funding of development projects if Yangon is allowed to lead the group.