Indonesia

Indonesia's leadership in its push for Myanmar's chairmanship indicates how far it has come since widespread riots in 1998 led to the fall of its authoritarian 'New Order' government followed by a four-year constitutional reform process preceding the election of current president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Although Myanmar is still in the earliest stages of potential political reform, Indonesia looks set to continue to be the most influential ASEAN player in the process, urging the bloc to push for reforms by supportive, rather than punitive, measures. Indonesia may be one of the most influential external parties to the long-term rehabilitation of Myanmar and could one day see close political ties with the country, leading to large-scale economic cooperation with its resource-rich neighbour.

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