Burma should listen to the world: FM

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation

The Burmese military junta should respond in positive to international pleas to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday.

Burma should take into consideration seriously as the international community unanimously called the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners for national reconciliation, he said.

It is very rare the international community from the United Nations Security Council, the United States, the European Union, the Asean and countries in East Asia took the same stance on the Burma, he said.

"Now the ball is in their court, I think Burma is thinking about the call seriously," Kasit told reporters.

Aung San Suu Kyi's is on the trial for the charge of breaching her house arrest term as an American John Yettaw swam across the Inya Lake to her resident in Rangoon.

The meetings of Asia-Europe in Hanoi and EU-Asean in Phnom Penh this week were dominated by Burma issue. Ministers to the meetings expressed their concern and called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Burma, however, stayed the court defending it was internal affairs and trial was conducted in accordance with its laws.

Kasit said Burma as a member of the Asean has an obligation to comply with Asean Charter which guilds the regional grouping to a people caring community.

"Of course, the charter's text has no sanction clause but there is a moral obligation which members have to comply," he said.

It is not interference in domestic affairs since all concerns were raised with good intention to see progressive of national reconciliation in Burma, he said.

"How the national reconciliation could take place if Aung San Suu Kyi was under detention. The process is not inclusive," he said.

Burma's political situation would loom large again next week when leaders of the Asean gathered in South Korea's Jeju Island to commemorate 20th year anniversary of Korea-Asean relation.