Myanmar has noted the world's concern over its detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who turned 58 yesterday, but Foreign Minister Win Aung said he was unable to give a time for her release.
"That was the question I was asked and I said 'please, I am foreign minister coming out to expose myself to the world and please forgive me for not being able to give the time,'" he told CNN in an interview telecast yesterday when asked how far Mynmar was from releasing Suu Kyi.
Win Aung was speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN conference where US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday slammed Myanmar's military rulers for detaining Suu Kyi.
"The brutal rulers of [Myanmar] need to understand that the only acceptable way forward is to release Aung San Suu Kyi," Powell told a news conference in Phnom Penh.
The US is also considering tough measures to ratchet up pressure on the military junta.
Suu Kyi, who has spent years under house arrest, was detained again on May 30 after her followers clashed with supporters of the military government during a rural tour.
"We are waiting for the normalcy to come back and a clear picture ... then I think Aung San Suu Kyi, restrictions put on her, would be lifted," Win Aung said.
"We don't have intention to prolong this arrangement, but for the time being we have to swallow the bitter pill now ... We have not intention to hold her forever."
The foreign minister told CNN he would take what he had heard at the conference to his leadership.
"Everything what is being said is now being noticed. Of course when I go back home will take with me the ... concerns expressed by other ministers during the meeting and will submit to my leadership of what I have heard," Win Aung said.
He said Myanmar had not abandoned its goal of democracy and wanted to move ahead, but it did not want to return to the days of 1988 when millions of people joined anti-government protests. Hundreds were killed when troops fired at crowds.
"We were very much concerned that the days of anarchy of 1988 will be back ... We are not sure what is the motives of these young militants, young people roaming all over the place... and young monks too."
"We have to clear up, clear up means that what is the real intention behind all these activities. And if the situation is really leading towards anarchic days of past then we might [find] it very difficult to come back," Win Aung said.
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