ASEAN Chair Urges Myanmar to Free More Prisoners Including Aung San Suu Kyi
The Philippines, chair of ASEAN, encourages Myanmar to release more prisoners, including ousted former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Philippines, as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has issued a statement urging Myanmar to release additional prisoners, particularly focusing on the case of ousted former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The call for more prisoner releases follows a recent amnesty that marked a positive step towards inclusive national dialogue in Myanmar.
According to the statement from ASEAN's chair, there is a commitment to supporting Myanmar as part of the regional bloc to find a peaceful and enduring solution to the political crisis within the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since her democratically elected government was overthrown in a coup in 2021.
Recent discussions about her welfare included a meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Myanmar's new President, Min Aung Hlaing.
Sihasak conveyed that Min Aung Hlaing assured him of Aung San Suu Kyi’s well-being and hinted at considering 'good things' for her future.
The ASEAN concerns regarding her welfare were also communicated by Sihasak during the meeting.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a 27-year term following convictions on charges that her allies argue are politically motivated, including incitement, corruption, and violations of the state secrets law.
Her sentence was reduced as part of an amnesty that also included the release of her ally, Win Myint, the former president.
The coup led by Min Aung Hlaing in 2021 ended a decade of tentative democracy in Myanmar, prompting mass protests and a civil war that prompted ASEAN to intervene.
The generals who led the coup were subsequently excluded from ASEAN summits.
In his recent inauguration, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized his commitment to peace and reconciliation in Myanmar, as well as efforts to normalize relations with ASEAN.
The call for more prisoner releases follows a recent amnesty that marked a positive step towards inclusive national dialogue in Myanmar.
According to the statement from ASEAN's chair, there is a commitment to supporting Myanmar as part of the regional bloc to find a peaceful and enduring solution to the political crisis within the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since her democratically elected government was overthrown in a coup in 2021.
Recent discussions about her welfare included a meeting between Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Myanmar's new President, Min Aung Hlaing.
Sihasak conveyed that Min Aung Hlaing assured him of Aung San Suu Kyi’s well-being and hinted at considering 'good things' for her future.
The ASEAN concerns regarding her welfare were also communicated by Sihasak during the meeting.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a 27-year term following convictions on charges that her allies argue are politically motivated, including incitement, corruption, and violations of the state secrets law.
Her sentence was reduced as part of an amnesty that also included the release of her ally, Win Myint, the former president.
The coup led by Min Aung Hlaing in 2021 ended a decade of tentative democracy in Myanmar, prompting mass protests and a civil war that prompted ASEAN to intervene.
The generals who led the coup were subsequently excluded from ASEAN summits.
In his recent inauguration, Min Aung Hlaing emphasized his commitment to peace and reconciliation in Myanmar, as well as efforts to normalize relations with ASEAN.
