Thailand calls for ASEAN mission to mediate in Myanmar impasse
Thailand calls for ASEAN mission to mediate in Myanmar impasse
BANGKOK (Agencies): Thailand called on Myanmar on Monday to allow an ASEAN mediation mission help solve the political impasse between the ruling military junta and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
"Thailand has long supported reconciliation among the opposing parties in Myanmar and activating the troika (an ASEAN mediation team) would be in line with Myanmar's policy," Thai deputy foreign ministry spokesman Suphat Chitranukroh told AFP.
Such a move would also improve the image of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said.
The troika would comprise Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei, which along with Myanmar are members of the regional grouping.
ASEAN's image had been sullied by the long-running political confrontation in Myanmar and it must work to restore its credibility in the eyes of the international community, he added.
While the former colonial ruler Britain and the United States have led condemnation of the junta for human rights abuses and placing opposition leaders under house arrest, ASEAN has remained silent under its code of non-interference in members' internal affairs.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
On Friday, Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders were escorted from Yangon central station by police and placed under house arrest after being prevented from boarding a train to the northern city of Mandalay.
Myanmar's ruling military launched a new broadside against Suu Kyi on Monday, saying her efforts to move freely within the country were unreasonable and destabilizing.
In a statement, the government also said foreign countries had no right to criticize it and should mind their own business, and complained that the regime's efforts to move Myanmar in the right direction were constantly met with ridicule.
Myanmar's ruling junta on Monday barred British diplomats from visiting opposition leader Suu Kyi while Australia and Japan condemned the renewed crackdown on the Nobel laureate and her National League for Democracy (NLD).
Security forces blocked British diplomats from visiting Suu Kyi and deputy chairman Tin Oo, a diplomatic source told AFP.
Only relatives and domestic staff were allowed to visit NLD leaders on Monday and they were carefully checked by security personnel before and after visits. NLD members were not allowed access to party leaders.
Tin Oo is being held on a military base 50 kilometers north of Yangon. He was not at his house Monday, a diplomatic source confirmed.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer expressed his government's concern over the latest crackdown.
"The Burmese (Myanmar) government's actions in respect to Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters are unacceptable," he said.
Japan also voiced concern. "We are going to urge the Myanmar government to lift a measure of restriction on the freedom of movement of Aung San Suu Kyi," said a spokesman for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.