Yangon: The Philippines has formally called on the Myanmar government to permit ASEAN's special envoy to engage with Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained former civilian leader. This appeal comes after Myanmar's recent decision to allow Suu Kyi to serve the remainder of her prison sentence under house arrest.
According to Thai News Agency, the Philippines, currently leading the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), emphasized the importance of this move in fostering trust, which is critical for ensuring long-term stability in Myanmar. The Philippine Foreign Ministry also stressed that Myanmar should enable Aung San Suu Kyi to communicate with her family, reinforcing their commitment to genuine national reconciliation.
The statement further highlighted that enabling the ASEAN Special Envoy to meet with Suu Kyi would facilitate broader engagement with various stakeholders, potentially advancing an inclusive national dialogue. The Philippines sees this development as an opportunity to propel political discussions and reconciliation under the ASEAN peace framework, known as the Five Consensus.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been held since her democratically elected government was toppled by a military coup in 2021. Her sentence of 27 years was the result of several charges, which her supporters claim were politically motivated.
Recently, her sentence was reduced by one-sixth following a pardon that was part of a broader release initiative that included former President Win Myint and other key allies.