ASEAN officials say Myanmar should release political detainees
Posted: 18 July 2008 1823 hrs

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SINGAPORE : Myanmar should release all political detainees, senior Southeast Asian officials say in a recommendation to their foreign ministers ahead of a two-day meeting next week.

If endorsed, the recommendation will be included in a joint statement to be issued after the meeting of ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) starting Sunday.

The proposals on Myanmar also call on the military government "to take bolder steps in what they're doing to move along the roadmap to democracy," a senior official said.

ASEAN has been widely criticised for its policy of "constructive engagement" regarding Myanmar, which is under EU and US sanctions over its human rights record.

"We felt we should say a little bit more than usual, unlike before, when we just take whatever they say," the official said.

He said the Myanmar officials did not want any political developments mentioned in the draft, but as everybody else did they had no choice.

Myanmar's detainees include democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest for most of the past 18 years.

Myanmar was also criticised internationally for its delay in allowing foreign aid into the country after a May 2 cyclone that left 138,000 people dead or missing.

It subsequently allowed aid workers to enter under an arrangement with ASEAN and the United Nations.

Military-ruled Myanmar will accede next week to the ASEAN Charter, which commits Southeast Asian nations to notions of democracy and human rights, Singapore's foreign minister said on Friday.

The charter commits ASEAN members "to strengthen democracy, enhance good governance and the rule of law, and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Myanmar's foreign minister is expected to brief his peers about recent political developments in his country as well as the continuing post-cyclone efforts, a Southeast Asian diplomat told AFP.

Just seven days after the cyclone, Myanmar insisted on holding a referendum on a military-backed constitution.

It said that despite the devastation, 98 per cent of voters turned out for the ballot and more than 92 per cent endorsed their constitution.

The opposition party of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held under house arrest for most of the past 18 years, dismissed the referendum outcome as a "sham".

In the draft, senior officials recommend that ministers take note of the referendum, but there was no elaboration on that point. - AFP/ms