Indonesia nudges Myanmar on Suu Kyi, Thais on Muslims<\/p>\n
Telly Nathalia,
\nReuters\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia accused fellow ASEAN member Myanmar on Friday of
\ndodging the issue of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's detention
\nand said there was a gap between official junta statements and
\nreality.<\/p>\n
Myanmar was asked at a summit of the Association of South East
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos earlier this week to clarify media
\nreports it had extended opposition leader Suu Kyi's house arrest
\nfor another year, Indonesia's foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n
"The matter was asked, clarification requested, but still
\nthere was no explicit answer," ministry spokesman Marty
\nNatalegawa told a news briefing.<\/p>\n
"There was no explicit answer that confirms the extension of
\nthe detention, except for the explanations or reasons why
\nMyanmar's government decided to detain Aung San Syu Kyi that we
\nhave heard before."<\/p>\n
Myanmar's fellow ASEAN members have urged Yangon to release
\nSuu Kyi, 59, the 1991 Nobel peace prize winner, whose continued
\ndetention has proved an embarrassment to the forum in its
\ndealings with Europe and the United States.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, which consists of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia,
\nBrunei, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and
\nMyanmar, has a long-held policy of not interfering in its
\nmembers' internal affairs.<\/p>\n
Washington, which has condemned Syu Kyi's detention and
\nimposed sanctions on Myanmar, has said it will have to think
\nabout whether to deal with ASEAN at a senior level when Myanmar
\nchairs the group in 2006.<\/p>\n
Despite mounting international pressure, Myanmar has refused
\nto budge, instead issuing assurances it is committed to moving
\ntowards democracy at its own pace.<\/p>\n
"Seeing the reality, it is difficult for us to conclude there
\nis consistency between what they say and the reality in Myanmar,"
\nsaid Marty.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 15 years confined to her
\nhome in Yangon, with no phone and requiring official permission
\nto have visitors.<\/p>\n
Her National League for Democracy, which won 1990 elections,
\nthe results of which were ignored by the military, said this week
\nthat Myanmar's rulers had informed its leaders they would extend
\nSuu Kyi's isolation until at least Nov. 27 next year.<\/p>\n
Marty also said a Muslim insurgency in the south of Thailand
\nnear the border with Malaysia was an issue for which Bangkok
\nshould seek help through ASEAN.<\/p>\n
"They do not want this issue to be internationalized through
\nthe ASEAN forum," he said. "Indonesia encourages Thailand to
\nbring the issue to ... ASEAN. The result will be more positive."<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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