RI to send special envoy to Myanmar
RI to send special envoy to Myanmar
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia has decided to go ahead with a plan to send a special
envoy to Myanmar, since the junta has given no indication that
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be released anytime soon.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on
Friday that the special envoy would leave for Yangon soon to
convey Indonesia's stance on the issue to Myanmar leaders.
"We will take a low profile and consider our move low key as
we believe we can settle the issue in a more effective way
through silent diplomacy," Marty told a weekly press briefing.
Indonesia, which in XXXX will assume the presidency of
Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), to which Myanmar
also belongs, has suggested that Myanmar heed the mounting demand
for the release of Suu Kyi, who has been in custody in Myanmar
since May.
Indonesian has repeatedly urged Myanmar to release Suu Kyi
before the ASEAN summit, slated for Oct. 7 in Bali, or even
before the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23.
Marty declined to go into detail regarding the identity or
departure date of the special envoy.
Myanmar has been under world scrutiny after Suu Kyi was
detained following a riot involving her supporters and government
supporters on May 31.
The United States and Japan have threatened to impose economic
sanctions against Myanmar, while ASEAN co-founder Malaysia has
demanded the expulsion of Myanmar from the regional grouping if
Yangon ignores the global demand.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri earlier named Ali Alatas as a
special envoy to travel to Myanmar. Jakarta suspended the plan
after Myanmar sent its foreign minister, U Win Aung, to Jakarta
in July.
Aside from sending a special envoy, Jakarta has also proposed
a dispatch of high-ranking officials from ASEAN member countries
to Myanmar regarding Suu Kyi's detention.
Most ASEAN member countries have expressed support for the
plan, but want to discuss the matter first.