The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will meet in Malaysia next month to discuss Myanmar. One hopes the meeting will formulate a concrete plan to compel the junta to prove that it is serious about dismantling autocratic structures of power and moving towards democracy.

There are two reasons for this. One, in the face of all the gentle approaches from Asean, and against the tide of international public opinion, the junta has extended the detention of the leader of the democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi, by another year.

Two, the United States is working towards a United Nations resolution against the junta.

While US officials have cited the violation of human rights in Myanmar as the reason, it could use the issue to enlarge its influence in the region and ensure that its dominant geopolitical role in Asia remains unchallenged, especially given the rise of China, Myanmar’s closest ally.

This is why Asean should persuade China to play an active role in coaxing Myanmar to adopt tangible measures which will convince the world that it is keen on restoring democracy.

Suu Kyi should be released without conditions and a firm date should be set for fresh nation-wide democratic elections, with all political actors participating. China should be told that unless there is a concrete action plan from the Myanmar regime, the US will seize the opportunity to pursue its own agenda.

India, with whom Myanmar is expanding economic ties, should also be brought on board. Next to China, it is India that Myanmar sees as a shield of sorts to protect its deeply flawed position on human rights from world censure.

Asean should try to convince India that its own credentials as the world’s largest democracy could be tarnished if it is viewed as “the protector” of the Myanmar regime.

The road to Myanmar is through Beijing and, to a lesser degree, New Delhi.

The Asean meeting should adopt a unified stand on sending a high-level Asean delegation to Beijing and Delhi to persuade their leaders to apply maximum pressure on the Myanmar regime.