Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia urged military-ruled Myanmar on Tuesday to take more credible steps towards democratisation, including releasing political prisoners.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his country was frustrated that years of attempts to engage Myanmar diplomatically had born little fruit.
"We wish to see a more credible process in the implementation of their roadmap to democracy," Wirajuda was quoted by Reuters as saying in an annual foreign affairs briefing.
Myanmar's junta has embarked on a national convention to draw up a new constitution as part of its "roadmap to democracy", but the process has been criticised in many
quarters as a sham.
At least 31 people were killed in September when the junta crushed the biggest pro-democracy protests in nearly 20 years, prompting international condemnation and tougher sanctions.
Indonesia, the largest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, has been increasingly critical of Myanmar's foot-dragging on
reforms.
Myanmar's prime minister, Thein Sein, will hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a visit to Jakarta next week.
Wirajuda said the visit served as an opportunity for Myanmar to brief the Indonesian leader about its plans.
He said even though neither diplomacy nor sanctions had brought changes in Myanmar, it was important to continue to engage Myanmar with the help of regional powers such as China and India.
"Some countries in the region choose to be indifferent but for Indonesia, we can't afford to ignore this problem," he said. "We have to be pro-active."
He reiterated calls for Myanmar to release political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar has ignored international pressure to release Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for years.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a 1990 election by a landslide, but was denied power by the military, which has ruled in one form or another since a 1962 coup. (*)
Copyright © 2008 ANTARA
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said his country was frustrated that years of attempts to engage Myanmar diplomatically had born little fruit.
"We wish to see a more credible process in the implementation of their roadmap to democracy," Wirajuda was quoted by Reuters as saying in an annual foreign affairs briefing.
Myanmar's junta has embarked on a national convention to draw up a new constitution as part of its "roadmap to democracy", but the process has been criticised in many
quarters as a sham.
At least 31 people were killed in September when the junta crushed the biggest pro-democracy protests in nearly 20 years, prompting international condemnation and tougher sanctions.
Indonesia, the largest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Myanmar, has been increasingly critical of Myanmar's foot-dragging on
reforms.
Myanmar's prime minister, Thein Sein, will hold talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a visit to Jakarta next week.
Wirajuda said the visit served as an opportunity for Myanmar to brief the Indonesian leader about its plans.
He said even though neither diplomacy nor sanctions had brought changes in Myanmar, it was important to continue to engage Myanmar with the help of regional powers such as China and India.
"Some countries in the region choose to be indifferent but for Indonesia, we can't afford to ignore this problem," he said. "We have to be pro-active."
He reiterated calls for Myanmar to release political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Myanmar has ignored international pressure to release Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for years.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a 1990 election by a landslide, but was denied power by the military, which has ruled in one form or another since a 1962 coup. (*)
Copyright © 2008 ANTARA
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