Malaysia yesterday urged Myanmar to free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, three weeks before her latest term of house arrest comes up for review.
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the military regime should release the 61-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate in the interests of national reconciliation.
"Our position has not changed. They [military junta] should not continue with her detention," he said.
"We think since they are continuing with the process of political reconciliation, it is better that they release her rather than to continue holding her," he said.
Suu Kyi's latest term of house arrest is scheduled for review on May 27.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asian lawmakers described her continuing detention as "very cruel" and urged ASEAN to suspend trade and economic ties with fellow association member Myanmar.
"The punishment imposed is very cruel. It is about time the military regime shows some consideration for her welfare," said Zaid Ibrahim, chairman of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Myanmar Caucus.
"I hope the military junta will adhere to the views of ASEAN," he said.
Lawmakers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are members of the caucus formed in 2004 to push for democratic reforms in Myanmar.
Suu Kyi has been under house arrest at her lakeside home in Yangon for most of the past 17 years.
Her latest period in detention began after a May 2003 attack on her convoy by a junta-backed militia in the country's central region.
She was thrown into prison after the assault but, following an operation four months later, was allowed to return home -- again under house arrest.
Calling for Suu Kyi's immediate release, Zaid said that it was clear that the governments of Southeast Asia were unable to secure her freedom.
"Obviously, ASEAN is quite helpless. It seems to me that their appeals are ignored by the junta," he said.
Zaid urged ASEAN, especially members with close economic ties with Myanmar, to press its military leaders to listen to their appeals.
"Perhaps they should be more assertive. There are a number of things they can do. One example is they have a lot of business relations with Myanmar. Can't ASEAN say we will suspend or slow down the ties?" he said.
Malaysia, a leading investor in the resource-rich country, had previously signaled the region was frustrated with Myanmar, saying the military regime had snubbed efforts to push for democracy.
Syed Hamid traveled to Yangon in March as an ASEAN envoy to check on its claims that it was shifting towards democracy. However, he was denied access to Suu Kyi.
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