Kit Siang: PM must secure Suu Kyi’s release

3:10pm Fri Jul 4th, 2003

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should take a ‘tough line’ to demand for the release of Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi when he meets with a visiting Burmese envoy next week, said an opposition leader today.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Mahathir must call for the immediate and unconditional release of Suu Kyi when Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win arrives in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

"Burmese Prime Minister Than Shwe has sent his top aide, Khin, on a diplomatic offensive in Asean and Asia to appeal for understanding and woo support for the junta’s relapse into greater intolerance, intransigence and defiance of international opinion.

"This must be denied emphatically and unequivocally by all Asean and Asian governments," he said in a press statement.

Mahathir’s influence

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that Khin (photo) will be in Kuala Lumpur as part of a four-stop mission to explain the junta’s detention to keep Suu Kyi incarcerated in a secret location despite global calls for her release.

Khin met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday to give assurance to the neighbouring leader that Suu Kyi is healthy and that she has been moved from a prison to a ‘safe house’.

He is scheduled to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi today. After meeting with Mahathir, he is expected to travel to Jakarta where he will meet Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

Meanwhile, Lim said Mahathir should use his leverage on the Burmese leaders to secure Suu Kyi’s release.

"Khin’s itinerary indicates the importance the junta places on Malaysia as one of three most important states (in Asean) to save it from total international isolation," he said.

"Malaysia must stop itself from being seen nationally, regionally and internationally as aiding and abetting the decades-long gross violation of human rights and the trampling of the hopes of the Burmese people for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future," Lim added.

The DAP leader said Khin should be told in no uncertain terms that the time is up for the Burmese junta to keep to its commitment to enter into a serious tripartite political dialogue with Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy as well as ethnic minority groups.

"(Khin should also be informed) that Malaysia is not prepared to continue playing the role of international apologist, defender and counsel for the junta," he added.

Road map

Lim also suggested that Asean should draw-up a mechanism to periodically monitor an agreed timetable and road map for the democratisation and national conciliation process in Burma.

"From being the weakest link, Malaysia and Asean should step forward to become pro-active and leading players (in the Burma crisis).

"(The countries must) warn the (Burmese government) of the awful consequences of continued contempt for regional and international opinion for the most elementary principles of human rights and democracy," he said.

Suu Kyi was arrested on May 30 at a northern Burmese town after her convoy was ambushed by government-sponsored groups. She has since been held without outside access with the exception of a short visit by United Nations special envoy for Burma Razali Ismail last month.

Since his return, Razali has criticised the Burmese junta for failing to release Suu Kyi and for holding her in "deplorable conditions" at a prison in the capital city, Rangoon.

To counter international criticisms, Rangoon has moved Suu Kyi from the prison to a house at an undisclosed location.

Source : Malaysiakini