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.