Leaders of the ASEAN regional grouping, growing tired of the Burmese military junta’s unwillingness to fulfill its obligations, has called on the country to democratize and release dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 9 (AP): Southeast Asian nations on Friday demanded that military-ruled Myanmar expedite democratic reforms and free Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, in the strongest display yet of their growing frustration with the junta.

Myanmar has pledged to allow democracy under strong pressure from its neighbors as well as the U.S. and other Western powers, but has so far failed to deliver.

Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations made clear their exasperation with fellow member Myanmar, at an annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur, said host Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

ééI don’t think any single country in ASEAN does not feel impatient and does not feel uncomfortable, because it does create problems and difficulties for us,” Syed Hamid said.

It’s not all just words, though. Earlier this year, Burma was supposed to take the chair of the ASEAN summit, but its leaders pressured the country into stepping down and allowing the next-in-line country to take it instead. They are also threatening that, should tangible progress not be made, Burma will be kicked out of ASEAN altogether. Talk about some teeth!

The junta has begun a constitutional convention that will pave the way for what it calls “disciplined democracy.” But the international community recognizes that it’s a sham, given that Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and her party forbidden to participate. In essense, it’s all a show, and nobody’s buying it. They’ll have to do better than this if they want

Whatever happened to praetorian regimes that could actually pull a stunt like this off? It feels like they’re not even trying anymore!