|
BANGKOK, July 31 (AFP): Myanmar's prime minister shunned the international clamour for the release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi by avoiding his country's political crisis in a speech Saturday at an Asian leaders' summit.
General Khin Nyunt spoke only of Asian economic cooperation and to extol the beaches, mountain ranges and attractions of Myanmar, which has been hit by an informal tourism boycott because of the military's democracy crackdown.
With Myanmar suffering under international sanctions, General Khin Nyunt used his speech in Bangkok to highlight close links with the country's Asian neighbours -- compared to the United States and Europe which have led criticism of the regime.
"It is indeed an honour and a pleasure for me to take part in today's historic meeting to exchange views on how to further strengthen our cooperation," he said at the BIMSTEC summit of leaders also from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.
In a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday, General Khin Nyunt said Aung San Suu Kyi would be released at a time of the regime's choosing.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been kept under house arrest for more than a year by the military junta that has ruled since taking over the country in a 1962 coup.
Her third period of detention followed a violent clash between her supporters and a pro-junta mob in May last year.
The detention of Aung San Suu Kyi -- whose deputy Tin Oo is also being held -- has proved a sticking point for planned talks between Southeast Asian nations and Europe scheduled for October in Vietnam.
EU ministers have demanded a signal that the junta is prepared to allow a degree of democratic opening, including her release, before sitting down with a Myanmar delegation.
ASEAN has refused to leave Myanmar out of the talks prompting a round of frantic diplomatic meetings to try to resolve the crisis.
|