Singapore - Myanmar ratified the Association of South-East Asian Nation's landmark charter Tuesday and vowed to uphold and enhance its democratic ideals.

Myanmar, vilified for its dictatorial government and human rights abuses, became the seventh of the 10-member regional grouping to ratify the document, which was signed by the leaders in November last year.

"Myanmar's ratification of the charter demonstrates our strong commitment to embrace the common values and aspirations of the peoples of ASEAN," Foreign Minister Nyan Win said.

Singapore - An international humanitarian taskforce Monday urged the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen "rapid response capacities" in cyclone-wrecked Myanmar. 

Composed of the United Nations, Myanmar's government and ASEAN's secretariat, the task force said ASEAN "should maintain its coordination leadership through mid-2009." 

ASEAN was the only trusted body to ensure relief and recovery efforts could be carried out successfully, the task force said. 

"Two months in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis, ASEAN has asserted its leadership that resulted in the reduction of loss of life and the alleviation of suffering," the task force said. 

Singapore - The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) intends to foster greater trust and cooperation between the international community and Myanmar's government, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday. 

Kicking off a meeting of ASEAN's foreign ministers in Singapore, Lee also said ASEAN has decided to press on with the implementation of its landmark charter "without waiting for all 10 members to ratify." 

The crisis over Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar in May, "tested ASEAN unity and forced us to consider what ASEAN meant to Myanmar and in turn what Myanmar meant to the group," Lee said. 

Singapore - Myanmar has indicated that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be freed in six months, because current laws limit her maximum detention period to six years, news reports said Monday.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said that his Myanmar counterpart, Nyan Win, said that Suu Kyi has "about half a year's time left," according to The Straits Times.

When asked if this meant that the Myanmar opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner would be released, Yeo said, "I think that is not an inaccurate inference."

Yangon - Myanmar's Mart

Bangkok - The New York-based Human Rights Watch on Saturday blasted Thailand for forcing 52 Karen refugees to return to a conflict-zone in Myanmar on Asarnha Buccha Day, the beginning of Buddhist l