RI 'understands' Suu Kyi's demand for colleagues' release<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia views the reported statement of Myanmar prodemocracy
\nleader Aung San Suu Kyi to deny her release without the freedom
\nof 35 of her colleagues as being in line with the demand of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) member countries.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Indonesian foreign ministry Marty Natalegawa
\nsaid it had been ASEAN's stance that the release of Suu Kyi
\nshould be placed within the context of national reconciliation
\nefforts in Myanmar, not just the prodemocracy leader herself.<\/p>\n
\"It would seem to be consistent that her release should be
\npart of wider reconciliation efforts; by implication, it should
\nbe more than just about Madame Suu Kyi herself,\" Marty told The
\nJakarta Post upon leaving for Tunis on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that ASEAN's stance had been conveyed to the
\nMyanmar military authorities during the regional grouping's
\nlatest summit in Bali last month.<\/p>\n
\"During the summit, the junta informed us that Suu Kyi was not
\nunder house arrest but we said that we sought her release as part
\nof national reconciliation in the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Marty was commenting on the recent report from UN human rights
\nenvoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who said, after a two-hour meeting
\nwith Suu Kyi, that the opposition leader was resisting her
\nrelease until her supporters had been released too.<\/p>\n
\"We urged that Myanmar proceed with the democratization road
\nmap and national reconciliation, as it said it would,\" Marty
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Suu Kyi was detained by the Myanmar military junta following
\nclashes between her supporters and government supporters on
\nMay 30.<\/p>\n
The demand for her release came not only from ASEAN, but also
\nmany countries and organizations outside the region, with donor
\ncountries such as Japan and the U.S. deciding to cut their
\nfinancial aid to the country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN, has continued to increase
\npressure on the Myanmar government to go ahead with the
\nreconciliation process.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri publicly asked Yangon to
\nannounce a clear timetable for the democratization road map in
\nthe country that is currently under military rule.<\/p>\n
In her latest meeting with Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Khin
\nNyut, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, Megawati once again
\nstressed that Indonesia would like to see a timetable for
\nreconciliation.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, ASEAN leaders agreed to allow more
\nleeway for the Myanmar government to deal with its domestic
\nproblems, to ensure a smooth democratization process.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-understands-suu-kyis-demand-for-colleagues-release-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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