Calls for urgent ASEAN meeting on Suu Kyi

August 11, 2009

Malaysia Tuesday led calls for an urgent meeting of Southeast Asian nations to address the situation in Myanmar after the conviction against democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Fellow ASEAN members Indonesia and the Philippines also firmly condemned the decision by a Yangon court to convict Suu Kyi of breaching a detention order and give her a jail term which was later commuted to 18 months house arrest.

However there was no reaction to the verdict from China, Thailand and India, Myanmar's three powerful regional neighbours who have in the past been accused of helping to prop up the junta in Yangon.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said the treatment of Suu Kyi was of serious concern for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which also includes Myanmar.

"I think there is a need for ASEAN foreign ministers to have an urgent meeting to discuss this issue," Anifah told AFP in Kuala Lumpur.

"With this sentence there is no possibility for Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the general election next year, which should be free, fair and inclusive."

Military-ruled Myanmar, accused of jailing political dissenters and committing other rights abuses, has been a thorn in ASEAN's side since it became a member of the bloc in 1997.

But ASEAN has rejected imposing sanctions on Myanmar, saying they have not worked and that the bloc preferred a policy of "constructive engagement" with the country.

ASEAN's biggest member Indonesia said it was "very disappointed" at the verdict, foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told AFP.

Indonesia has in the past called on the 10-nation bloc to do more to force Yangon to release Suu Kyi and improve its human rights record.

The Philippines, one of ASEAN's democracies, said extending Suu Kyi's house arrest was meant to keep the democracy leader and her National League for Democracy party out of elections next year.
"Obviously that is their intention. They don't want her to be out before the election," Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo told reporters.

"She and the NLD should be part of the democratisation and election. We've been very clear and constant (in our position)," he said.

Singapore said it was disappointed at the court's verdict, but it said the decision to commute the prison sentence to house arrest was a positive sign.

Singapore said it was "heartened" that Myanmar announced that Suu Kyi will be allowed to see doctors and nurses, communicate with her party and watch local television.

It described the concessions as "significant gestures" by the military regime.

There was silence from Myanmar's fellow ASEAN members Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which are all ruled by authoritarian governments.

But ASEAN trade partner Australia expressed "dismay" and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said he had asked Australia's ambassador to Myanmar to convey the government's sentiments to the ruling generals.