The Philippines, this year’s chair of the regional bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on Friday encouraged more prisoner releases in Myanmar, including jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and described a recent amnesty on April 17 as a positive step towards an inclusive national dialogue.
“We reaffirm our commitment to assisting Myanmar, as an integral part of ASEAN, to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the political crisis in the country,” the Philippines said in a statement as chair of the 11-member ASEAN.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been in detention since her elected government was toppled in a 2021 coup and her welfare was discussed this week by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow when he met Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated as Myanmar’s president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, in the capital Naypyidaw.
Sihasak said he had conveyed ASEAN’s concerns about the 80-year-old Aung San Suu Kyi’s welfare.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of multiple offences based on charges her allies said were politically motivated to keep her at bay, ranging from incitement and corruption to election fraud and violating a state secrets law.
Her sentence was commuted by one-sixth as part of an amnesty last week for thousands of prisoners that included the release of her ally, Win Myint, the ousted president and co-defendant in many of her trials.
REUTERS
