Asian nations call for release of Suu Kyi

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has urged Myanmar’s military government to free pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a rare intrusion into the internal affairs of one of its members.

During an annual meeting, nine foreign ministers of the 10-nation Asean told their Myanmar counterpart that they want Suu Kyi released as soon as possible, Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yong said.

“We had a good exchange of views on Myanmar and (the ministers) conveyed the request ... to the Myanmar government that they would like to see an easing of tensions and early release of Aung San Suu Kyi,” Ong said.

Suu Kyi was detained after violence in northern Myanmar on May 30 that the military described as a clash between members of her National League for Democracy party and government supporters.

Opposition accounts portrayed the incident as an ambush of Suu Kyi’s entourage in which as many as 70 people were killed. The government reportedly detained more than 100 opposition members and closed offices of the National League for Democracy.

Asean’s demand for Suu Kyi’s release was unprecedented, given its policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of members. The Asean countries were apparently forced by growing international pressure on the group to use its influence with the generals in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s junta, which came to power in 1988, refused to step down after Suu Kyi’s party won national elections in 1990. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.