Manila: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has called on Myanmar’s military government to release more political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, saying this is important for peace and national unity.
The appeal came from the current Asean chair, the Philippines, after Myanmar recently freed thousands of prisoners as part of a traditional new year amnesty. While the regional bloc welcomed the move as a positive step, it said much more needs to be done to build trust and start meaningful talks.
Among those released was former president Win Myint. However, Suu Kyi remains in detention, even though her sentence was slightly reduced. She has been held since the military takeover in 2021 and is serving a long prison term on charges that many international observers believe are politically motivated.
Asean leaders said that releasing more detainees would help create space for dialogue between all sides in Myanmar. They stressed that peace cannot be achieved without including key political figures and addressing the concerns of the people.
Myanmar continues to face unrest and conflict since the military, led by Min Aung Hlaing, took control of the country. Fighting has continued in many areas, and efforts to start peace talks have not yet succeeded.
The regional bloc has kept pressure on Myanmar by limiting the participation of its military leaders in high level meetings. At the same time, it is trying to encourage small steps that could lead to a broader solution.
Recent signals from within Myanmar suggest there could be some openness to improving the situation of Suu Kyi, but no clear decision has been announced.
For now, Asean says the release of more political prisoners would be an important step towards reducing tensions and bringing the country closer to stability.