Alatas to leave for Myanmar

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