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![Eva Sundari says the military continues to dominate Burma's parliament and shape the country's politics [AFP]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201105/r766013_6480650.jpg "Eva Sundari says the military continues to dominate Burma's parliament and shape the country's politics [AFP]")
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Eva Sundari says the military continues to dominate Burma's parliament and shape the country's politics [AFP]
Burma is no closer to democracy despite electing a new parliament 100 days ago, according to the president of ASEAN's inter-parliamentary caucus on the country.
Burma held its first general elections in two decades last November and the country's military junta - which had ruled since 1962 - was officially dissolved in March.
But Eva Sundari has told Connect Asia if Burma doesn't show proof it's moving towards democracy, allowing it to chair Association of South East Asian Nations in 2014 could damage the organisation's reputation.
"If ASEAN is chaired by controversial figures, then I think the international community will also reject cooperation with ASEAN," she said.
"So that's why we must be critical about the support of ASEAN to allow Burma to [chair] ASEAN."
ASEAN members are reluctant to criticise Burma because of its important role in supplying energy to the region, she says.
Ms Sundari, who is also an Indonesian MP, says Burma's military is still shaping the country's politics.
"The parliament is dominated by [the] military, and one centre has recently calculated that 80 per cent of the seats actually went to the military."
Ms Sundari says Burma needs to demonstrate movement towards democracy between now and October, when ASEAN will meet to consider the 2014 chairmanship.
"We will wait until October to see whether they have shown good intentions and also proof, then we can agree.
"But then if they don't show any proof, then we must object to this idea, because it will be no good for ASEAN."
Burma held its first general elections in two decades last November and the country's military junta - which had ruled since 1962 - was officially dissolved in March.
But Eva Sundari has told Connect Asia if Burma doesn't show proof it's moving towards democracy, allowing it to chair Association of South East Asian Nations in 2014 could damage the organisation's reputation.
"If ASEAN is chaired by controversial figures, then I think the international community will also reject cooperation with ASEAN," she said.
"So that's why we must be critical about the support of ASEAN to allow Burma to [chair] ASEAN."
ASEAN members are reluctant to criticise Burma because of its important role in supplying energy to the region, she says.
Ms Sundari, who is also an Indonesian MP, says Burma's military is still shaping the country's politics.
"The parliament is dominated by [the] military, and one centre has recently calculated that 80 per cent of the seats actually went to the military."
Ms Sundari says Burma needs to demonstrate movement towards democracy between now and October, when ASEAN will meet to consider the 2014 chairmanship.
"We will wait until October to see whether they have shown good intentions and also proof, then we can agree.
"But then if they don't show any proof, then we must object to this idea, because it will be no good for ASEAN."
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