Alatas to leave for Myanmar

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri's special envoy Ali Alatas is slated to leave for Myanmar on Sunday to lobby the military junta for the release of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The trip was confirmed on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' director general for Asia, the Pacific and Africa, Makarim Wibisono.

During his trip to Myanmar, the former foreign minister will also seek information on Suu Kyi's health after she underwent a major operation on Thursday.

Alatas' mission is part of the preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Bali next month.

Earlier, Ali said that Indonesia, which currently chairs ASEAN, would also urge Myanmar to push ahead with its proposed reconciliation and democratization process. --JP