Phnom Penh (dpa) - Cambodia has joined several other Southeast Asian countries in launching a caucus designed to join member parliaments to negotiate with Burma for the release of pro- democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.
The launch of the caucus, under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was held on Friday and Saturday and guests included parliamentarians from Thailand and Malaysia, as well as the ambassadors of the US and Germany to Cambodia.
A letter of support from New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was read to delegates at the meeting, held at a Phnom Penh hotel.
Cambodia agreed to appoint the 26-member caucus at the recent Asean meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Led by opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay, it comprises members of all three major Cambodian political parties.
Council of Ministers member for the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, Sann Aung, who flew in from Thailand to attend, said he believed international pressure would eventually make Burma's ruling junta listen.
"In our view, international pressure is very important. We believe this pressure will prove effective," he said.
No representative from the Burmese embassy in Phnom Penh attended.
Asean normally eschews any involvement in the internal affairs of other countries in the 10-member bloc.
However, mounting international pressure that threatens to harm trade has forced the group toward pressuring Burma to comply with demands to release Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest on and off since 1989, and to adopt a democratic government.
The launch of the caucus, under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was held on Friday and Saturday and guests included parliamentarians from Thailand and Malaysia, as well as the ambassadors of the US and Germany to Cambodia.
A letter of support from New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was read to delegates at the meeting, held at a Phnom Penh hotel.
Cambodia agreed to appoint the 26-member caucus at the recent Asean meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Led by opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay, it comprises members of all three major Cambodian political parties.
Council of Ministers member for the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, Sann Aung, who flew in from Thailand to attend, said he believed international pressure would eventually make Burma's ruling junta listen.
"In our view, international pressure is very important. We believe this pressure will prove effective," he said.
No representative from the Burmese embassy in Phnom Penh attended.
Asean normally eschews any involvement in the internal affairs of other countries in the 10-member bloc.
However, mounting international pressure that threatens to harm trade has forced the group toward pressuring Burma to comply with demands to release Suu Kyi, who has been held under house arrest on and off since 1989, and to adopt a democratic government.
1 comment:
It is about time that the Burmese government releases Aung San Suu Kyi! The Burmese government haven't prove anything except their weakness! The Burmese government fear one woman and this is a fucken joke! No Burmese women should be a slave the Burmese government dominated by men! These men are weak and coward!
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