RP ‘outraged’ over Aung San Suu Kyi case

MANILA, Philippines—Government on Sunday expressed outrage over what it called trumped-up charges Myanmar’s military junta has filed against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and other members of the political opposition detained by the country’s military leaders.

“The Philippine government is deeply troubled and outraged over the filing of trumped-up charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and her transfer to Insein prison,” he said, referring to the jail where she would be tried on Monday.

“It is high time for the Myanmar government to carry out its own ‘Roadmap for Democracy’ — its avowed program of releasing political detainees,” he said. “Fulfilling these commitments is long overdue.”

The junta has pledged to free political detainees and hold elections next year as part of a much-discussed “roadmap” to restore democracy to the country, which has been ruled by the military since 1962.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with violating the terms of her house arrest, and if convicted would likely be in prison when the elections take place. Her party won elections in 1990 but was never allowed to take office.

The Philippines is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with Myanmar as well as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN has long been criticized for failing to press Myanmar to take stronger steps towards democracy in contrast to the tough sanctions on the country, formerly known as Burma, which have been imposed by Western nations.–Agence France-Presse