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HUA HIN, Thailand: Myanmar's prime minister told Asian leaders Sunday that the ruling military government sees a role for democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in fostering reconciliation ahead of elections in 2010, Thailand said.
Premier Thein Sein's comments to a regional summit in Thailand came after the government allowed the detained Suu Kyi to have a rare meeting with a minister, and as the United States sought to engage the military government.
Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, 64, was placed under a further 18 months' house arrest in August, effectively barring her from taking part in elections promised by the ruling generals in 2010.
But Thein Sein "feels optimistic that she can also contribute to the process of national reconciliation," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva quoted his Myanmar counterpart as saying at a briefing to Asian leaders.
He did not say if Thein Sein indicated whether this meant she would be allowed to take part in the electoral process.
Thein Sein was quoted by Japanese officials as saying on Saturday that the conditions of Suu Kyi's detention could be relaxed if she behaves.
She was convicted in August over an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside house.
Abhisit said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was pleased that the United States, which maintains strict sanctions against Myanmar, was now following its lead in trying to engage the military government.
"The one thing we all agreed on is that we welcome signs of further engagement in response to some developments in Myanmar. ASEAN has always argued that engagement is the right approach," Abhisit said.
Rights groups earlier criticised ASEAN for failing to mention Suu Kyi in their final summit declaration and for devoting just three lines to the military-ruled nation's political situation in the nine-page document.
But Abhisit denied that the group had softened its stance on Myanmar, having previously issued direct appeals for her release. The group has long faced western criticism for failing to take on the military government.
"It is not true. It was discussed. Everybody agrees that we should help Myanmar move forward in completing their roadmap so that it will lead to democracy," Abhisit said.
Myanmar announced a "roadmap to democracy" in 2008, starting with a controversial constitution that was forced through just days after a deadly cyclone and culminating in the elections.
"During the meeting (with Myanmar), there was a report that several detainees had been released. Everyone wants to see Myanmar's success," Abhisit said.
Indian premier Manmohan Singh, whose government makes few comments on its smaller neighbour, said that recent engagement between Washington and Myanmar's ruling generals was encouraging.
"There was an atmosphere of hope that the Myanmar leadership is moving towards normalising relations with the United States, that they are working towards national reconciliation," Singh told a news conference.
"That's what we all welcome, that the next year's elections should see the reconciliation of the various segments of Myanmar society."
A US delegation is set to make a rare "fact-finding" mission to Myanmar later this month after the administration of President Barack Obama announced recently that it would pursue engagement with the military government.
But it said that it would not look at changing sanctions until there had been progress on democracy.
Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the last 20 years since her party won a landslide victory in Myanmar's last democratic elections. The military government refused to recognise the victory.
- AFP/yb
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