Media Statement (4) by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 24^th May 2009: 

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) to meet in Bangkok tomorrow to demand that ASEAN governments convey in the strongest possible terms to Myanmar junta that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released on Wednesday May 27

The United Nations Security Council has called for the release of Burmese pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma and expressed its concern over her current trial.

In a unanimous statement, the 15-council members expressed their concern about the "political impact" of the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi charging her with violating the terms of her house arrest.

What is Malaysia and ASEAN doing to express in the strongest possible terms that Aung San Suu Kyi should be released on Wednesday May 27 on the expiry of her six-year illegal detention or the Myanmar military junta must face condemnation by the other ASEAN states?

There are two important international meetings in the next few days where the Suu Kyi question will feature prominently in their agenda, the Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' (ASEM) meeting in Hanoi on Monday and Tuesday to be followed by the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers Meeting in Pnom Penh on Wednesday and Thursday.

ASEAN should not just be at the receiving end at such international meetings, merely responding to demands that ASEAN should put pressure on the Myanmar military junta to release Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners as well as embark on a genuine democratization and national reconciliation process.

ASEAN should make it clear to the Myanmar military junta that with Suu Kyi being dragged through a sham trial and facing another five-year detention, ASEAN has reached the end of her patience.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) will meet in Bangkok tomorrow to demand that ASEAN governments convey in the strongest possible terms to Myanmar junta that Suu Kyi should be released on Wednesday May 27 on the expiry of the six-year illegal detention coupled with a “get-tough” approach if the Myanmar military junta continues to be unyielding and recalcitrant.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor