World | Philippines
Powerful women 'must pressure' Myanmar leaders
President Gloria Arroyo has called on women in power to pressure military leaders in Myanmar to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a senior official said.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:33 September 30, 2007
Manila: President Gloria Arroyo has called on women in power to pressure military leaders in Myanmar to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a senior official said.
"President Gloria Arroyo suggested that as a women's group, they write a letter to the Burmese [Myanmar] government to free Aung San Suu Kyi. The group agreed," said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in New York.
Arroyo's challenge came after a meeting with members of the Women's Leaders Working Group, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during the US General Assembly meeting.
Bunye did not say how Arroyo intended to bring together female leaders from across the world.
In a statement distributed to the media at the Waldorf Astoria Towers, where she stayed during her three-day trip, Arroyo said: "Yangon must act with utmost restraint and make immediate steps to preserve what advances have been made in its roadmap to democracy.
National renewal
"This means the release of all those who have been detained and who can contribute to the process of national renewal, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
"This is time for Burma to return to the path of democracy and to release Aung San Suu Kyi now and to involve all the parties, including the National League of Democracy [NLD] in the democratisation and the constitutional process."
Arroyo also called for the release of all imprisoned NLD members and the Buddhist monks who recently staged protests against Myanmar's military rulers.
"We have patiently but persistently advised Myanmar within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [Asean] that it must make greater and faster progress towards that goal," said Arroyo, the first Asean leader to boldly state a regional position.
Special envoy
The president added: "We ask the government of Myanmar to invite the UN special envoy for Myanmar, Ebrahim Gambari, to visit the country as soon as possible."
Singapore was expected to grant a visa to Gambari, and he was scheduled to arrive in Myanmar yesterday, sources told Gulf News.
"Recent events in Myanmar, therefore, are of concern to the Philippines and to the region as a whole. We have no tolerance for human rights violations at home and abroad."
Meanwhile, Asean foreign ministers in New York with Arroyo said they were "appalled" by the use of automatic weapons on protesters in Myanmar.
They also "expressed revulsion at Myanmar foreign Minister Nyan Win over reports the demonstrations in Myanmar were being suppressed by violent force and that there had been a number of fatalities".
Arroyo's statements and that of the Asean foreign ministers, excluding Nye Win, was unusual among Asean members who prefer non-interference and a consensual approach in solving regional crises.
- With inputs by Estrella Torres, Correspondent
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