ASEAN Urges Myanmar to Free Aung San Suu Kyi

Manila - The ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines, has urged Myanmar to promptly free pro-democracy political figure Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners as part of a national amnesty for more than 4,000 detainees in the country.

“Specifically, we welcome the release of U Win Myint as a positive step towards inclusive national dialogue among all parties in Myanmar. In this regard, we also encourage the release of other prisoners in Myanmar, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in the spirit of true reconciliation and peace,” the ASEAN Chair’s statement said on Friday.

U Win Myint is Myanmar’s 10th president, and Aung San Suu Kyi served as state counsellor, with their government overthrown in a coup in February 2021.

ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating a peaceful and lasting solution to the political crisis in Myanmar, through a process led and owned by Myanmar and aligned with the Five-Point Consensus (5PC).

The ASEAN Chair for 2026 stated that it still recognises Myanmar as an integral part of the organisation and that the 5PC remains the main reference for addressing the political crisis in Myanmar.

The ASEAN Chair for 2026 also urged all parties to create a conducive situation for the distribution of humanitarian aid in Myanmar.

In the same statement, the ASEAN Chair for 2026 also welcomed the amnesty for citizens of Southeast Asian countries and hopes they can be repatriated promptly and safely.

Similar hopes were expressed for those still in detention, particularly victims of human trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

In observance of the Myanmar New Year, local authorities announced an amnesty for 4,335 prisoners in the country.