Megawati to push for Myanmar reconciliation

The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali

President Megawati Soekarnoputri plans to make a formal request to the Myanmar government to move forward with the reconciliation and democratization process of the country in the coming bilateral talks with Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyut.

The bilateral talks are scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the ninth Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Summit here on Tuesday. There will 14 heads of state attending, the 10 ASEAN leaders in addition to special invitees, the leaders of Japan, India, China and South Korea.

There has not been any public confirmation for the date of the Myanmar-Indonesian talks, but Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said that it would most likely be held before the ASEAN leaders officially begin the summit on Tuesday.

"We will stress our stance, which was conveyed by the President in a letter to (Myanmar's ruling) junta earlier this month," Wirayuda said on Saturday.

He added that the Megawati would also use the opportunity to hear first-hand about the steps being taken toward democratization, directly from the top Myanmar policy makers.

Megawati had earlier stated that Indonesia would like to be informed of a definite timeframe for the democratization road map in that country, especially as regards the status of the pro- democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest at the orders of the military government.

The President earlier has been quoted as saying that the Suu Kyi should be released immediately to prevent the possibility of the issue dominating the Summit proceedings, wherein many crucial economic and security cooperation measures will be deliberated upon.

"During the coming foreign ministers meeting, we will also speak on the issue with the Myanmar minister," Hassan added.

Myanmar Foreign Affairs Minister U Win Aung slated to arrive here on Saturday, will attend the foreign ministers meeting on Sunday (today).