ASEM ministers ask Myanmar to free Suu Kyi
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
Foreign ministers from Asia and Europe urged Myanmar on Thursday to immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy leaders, and guarantee freedom to engage in political activities.
In the chairman's statement, issued on the last day of the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Nusa Dua, Bali, the ministers underlined that the release of Suu Kyi would rectify the current setbacks in democracy in the country.
"The ministers call on the government of Myanmar to release immediately Aung San Suu Kyi and other party members and ensure them freedom of political activities," the statement said.
Ministerial delegations from 10 Asian countries -- Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and the 15 members of the European Union convened in Nusa Dua, Bali from July 21 through July 24 to discuss various regional issues.
The ministers also called on Myanmar to resume its efforts toward national reconciliation and democracy.
The statement also noted Myanmar's assurance to the world in the past months that the detention of Suu Kyi would be temporary and she would be released as soon as possible.
The arrest of Suu Kyi on May 30 was one of the burning issues in the ministerial meeting. Powerful nations like the United States and Japan have increased pressure on Myanmar by imposing sanctions.
The military junta also received pressure from its neighbors grouped under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to comply with international demand and release Suu Kyi.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also warned of Myanmar's expulsion from ASEAN as a last resort if Yangon disregarded the demands of the international community.
Thailand proposed that an international forum be convened to pressure the Myanmar regime to free the opposition leader.
Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai proposed that the forum should include, among others, Southeast Asian nations, the European Union, China and Japan.
However, so far Myanmar has not shown a positive response to these calls.
Most European countries continue to ask for strong actions against Myanmar, but Indonesia as chair of ASEAN said that isolating Myanmar would not solve the issue.
Indonesia is planning to send special envoy Ali Alatas, the country's former foreign minister, to convey a message from President Megawati Soekarnoputri to the Myanmar junta regarding the worsening situation there.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said the special envoy would be sent if Myanmar special envoy Win Aung did not convey a positive response when they meet on Monday.
"We are planning to send a special envoy to Myanmar, and high- ranking ASEAN officials also share the need to talk to the Myanmar government. However, we will wait for the coming talks between Myanmar envoy Win Aung and President Megawati," the minister said in the press conference after the closing ceremony of the meeting.
The ministers also noted the important role of the United Nations and strict compliance with international law in defusing the situation in Myanmar.
"We also reaffirm our support for the efforts of United Nations Special Envoy Tan Sri Razali Ismail," the statement said.
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