ASEAN insists on release of Suu Kyi

ASEAN insists on release of Suu Kyi

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) is continuing
to seek the early release of Myanmar democratic opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi from government detention, a government official
says.

"We want to get results, that is, the early release of Suu
Kyi, but off course in a spirit of partnership with the Myanmar
government," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty
Natalegawa said Sunday when asked about the meeting between
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and the United
Nations special envoy on Myanmar, Razali Ismail, on Saturday.

The two discussed follow-up action on the worldwide demands
for Suu Kyi's release. Indonesia currently chairs ASEAN.

Marty said the two officials discussed the possibility of
developing better ways of ensuring the release of the pro-
democracy leader, including Jakarta's idea of sending a high-
powered ASEAN ministerial team to Myanmar.

"We need the Myanmar side to respond to the proposal as they
promised. We are waiting for them to give us a proposal regarding
the team," Marty added.

Separately, Ismail said that Myanmar could no longer afford to
ignore appeals from its Southeast Asian neighbors for the release
Suu Kyi.

"I don't see how Myanmar can turn a deaf ear to the appeal of
the ASEAN countries," Ismail told Agence France-Presse after
meeting Hassan over breakfast.

"My purpose here ... is to underline how seriously the UN
looks at the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi," said
Ismail.

Myanmar's military junta announced on May 31 that the popular
leader had been detained. She was held after a junta-backed mob
attacked her supporters in violence feared to have left dozens
dead.

Her detention has sparked outrage around the world. The United
States and the European Union have beefed up their sanctions
against the Yangon regime.

During the 36th ASEAN foreign ministers meeting early this
month, the group asked for the release of Suu Kyi.

Myanmar has come under pressure from the international
community for the release of Suu Kyi, while the largest donor
country to Myanmar, Japan, has suspended aid to the country over
the issue.

The decision was taken following Ismail's confirmation to the
Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi that Suu Kyi was being
detained in poor conditions in a Yangon prison when he was
allowed to meet her on June 10.

Although during the ASEAN meeting, Myanmar's foreign minister
U Win Aung was open to member countries in explaining the
situation, so far there have been no signs that Suu Kyi will be
released in the near future.

Malaysia's foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said last
Thursday that the detention of the Nobel laureate had damaged
ASEAN's reputation and was a setback for the region.

Marty said Saturday's meeting was held at the request of
Ismail, and was intended to compare notes and fill each other in
on the latest developments in Myanmar.

Ismail returned to Malaysia on Sunday before going on to the
United Nations in New York.