Myanmar must respond to int'l demands: RI

Myanmar must respond to int'l demands: RI

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Phnom Penh

Indonesia underlined the need for the Myanmar government to
respond appropriately to international pressure to release
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from temporary detention.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on
Monday that Jakarta appreciated Myanmar's openness in discussing
the issue, but stressed that something more should be done to
respond to the world's demands over Suu Kyi.

"What is happening now in Myanmar is a setback for the country
itself and also a setback for the region. There should be an
adequate response to the demand," Hassan said.

The issue was among the highlights of the ongoing Association
of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting here, as
the United States and European Union increased pressure on the
country to release the opposition leader, who has been under
temporary detention since May 30.

Myanmar foreign minister Aung Win briefed ASEAN ministers
during the retreat on Monday and promised to forward the
suggestion and views of the ASEAN colleagues to the central
government.

Some predicted that Washington may impose sanctions against
the country should it fail to release Suu Kyi as soon as
possible.

Suu Kyi was detained following a riot involving her supporters
and government supporters.

"There is a real need for Myanmar to answer these demands from
the U.S. and EU, and we fully understand the urgency to do so,"
Hassan remarked.

ASEAN member countries have been trying to issue a proper term
in the coming AMM joint communique on Myanmar, as the Philippines
pushes for a harsher stance against the country.

In the draft of the joint communique, ASEAN does not even
express concern about what happened in the past weeks in Myanmar,
and simply recognizes that the country is striving for democracy.

Hassan said that ASEAN fully understood that the issue was a
domestic problem of Myanmar, but stressed that it would finally
affect the whole region.

"We appreciate that Myanmar voluntarily addresses the issue,
but they need to answer to international pressure," Hassan
stressed.