Hassan Wirayuda discusses RI concerns over Myanmar<\/p>\n
Jerry Norton, Reuters, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda held talks in Myanmar
\non Friday, the first senior overseas visitor to the widely
\nshunned nation since the junta purged its prime minister amid
\ncorruption charges last month.<\/p>\n
Hassan flew to Myanmar on an unannounced visit \"to communicate
\nour view, and one may even say our concern,\" about developments
\nin the former Burma, ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said.<\/p>\n
There was no official comment from Yangon, which was
\ncelebrating a national holiday, but an official said Hassan met
\nhis Myanmar counterpart Nyan Win and new Prime Minister Lt. Gen.
\nSoe Win.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate word on whether he met paramount leader
\nThan Shwe, which one source said Hassan was hoping to do.<\/p>\n
Hassan appeared to want to know what the military junta's
\npolicies were in the wake of the purge of Prime Minister Khin
\nNyunt, who was also head of military intelligence, and many of
\nhis associates over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
The government said Khin Nyunt's family was involved in
\ncorruption and posed a serious threat to Myanmar and its armed
\nforces, but the sudden dismantling of his military intelligence
\npower base took everyone by surprise.<\/p>\n
It even took aback Myanmar's fellow members of the 10-nation
\nAssociation of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) which have been
\nfollowing a policy of \"constructive engagement\" with a government
\nshunned in the West.<\/p>\n
\"This is the first diplomatic gambit from ASEAN and the
\noutside world to pick up lines of communication with the SPDC
\nsince the removal of General Khin Nyunt,\" said an ASEAN diplomat,
\nreferring to the military government by its acronym.<\/p>\n
The West and some Southeast Asian neighbors have criticized
\nMyanmar for its human rights record and its detention of
\ndemocracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.<\/p>\n
Khin Nyunt was believed to be willing to at least talk to her
\nand his removal consolidated the grip of the junta's hawks led by
\nThan Shwe, who is thought determined to ignore her.<\/p>\n
Indonesia swore in a new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
\nlast month. So far there has been no public indication his policy
\non Myanmar will differ from that of his predecessor.<\/p>\n
Like most of Myanmar's fellow members of ASEAN, Indonesia has
\nbeen critical of some of the junta's actions, including the
\ndetention of Suu Kyi, but has not been inclined to follow the
\nWest in imposing sanctions on the regime.<\/p>\n
Shortly after Khin Nyunt lost his job, Hassan had said: \"It's
\nan internal matter for Myanmar, but we hope the appointment of a
\nnew prime minister won't have a negative impact to the prospects
\nfor democratization and reconciliation.\"<\/p>\n
Hassan was due to Jakarta on Friday, Marty said.<\/p>\n
\"This visit has been made deliberately low key, with the
\nintention so that he can have an opportunity to have good, candid
\nand frank exchanges with the Myanmar side,\" he said.<\/p>",
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