Indonesia, Relations with

   Although there have been business and investment connections between Indonesia and Burma since the establishment of the latter's postsocialist economy in 1988-1989, arguably the most important impact of bilateral ties has been political: the State Law and Order Restoration Council/State Peace and Development Council's attempt to adopt a version of President Soeharto's doctrine of dwi fungsi ("two functions"), vesting the military with a social/political development role, as well as a national defense role. This is reflected in the principles adopted by the National Convention, including granting the Tatmadaw a given number of seats in the national legislature under a new constitution. Although the fall of Soeharto in May 1998 meant the end of dwi fungsi in its home country, the concept remains important in the SPDC's plans for a future political system. The government of post-Soeharto Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest country and a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has occasionally criticized the SPDC, especially over the issue of the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, but its basic policy remains noninterference in the domestic affairs of fellow ASEAN members.