EBO Burma News, 10 June 2003

News Summary:

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1. UN envoy calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi, new dialogue

2. Myanmar Gives Assurances on Freeing Suu Kyi -Envoy

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UN envoy calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi, new dialogue

 

SINGAPORE, June 10 (AFP) - UN envoy Razali Ismail pressed Tuesday for the

release of Myanmar's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi after meeting

her in Yangon and urged both the regime and the opposition to resume dialogue.

 

Stopping over in Singapore after meeting Aung San Suu Kyi at a guest house

in Yangon where she was being held, Razali declined to give any details on the

casualties in the recent political violence in Myanmar.

 

The Malaysian diplomat said he would meet soon with UN Secretary General

Kofi Annan to deliver a report on his mission, which culminated in a

last-minute meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi.

 

He stressed that the government "will have to get her out of protective

custody," and "that also applies to the other people" detained.

 

Razali, who was en route to Kuala Lumpur, told reporters at Singapore's

Changi airport that Aung San Suu Kyi, who was earlier feared to have been hurt

in the clashes, was in "absolutely fine spirits."

 

Earlier in Yangon airport, Razali said Aung San Suu Kyi was well and

uninjured. The ruling junta waited until the final hours of Razali's five-day

mission before giving him permission to see Aung San Suu Kyi.

 

He said in Singapore that all parties should "realize the potential

dangers" of the national reconciliation process being undermined.

 

"This is a point I made to the government, I made to Aung San Suu Kyi,"

Razali said.

 

He said the NLD and the government have to "get back to discussing things

with each other" and move as "expeditiously as possible."

 

"We are prepared to go all the way to help," he said when asked how far the

UN would go to intervene in Myanmar.

 

"I am going to see the Secretary General soon enough. I will talk to him,"

Razali said.

 

"If they will allow me I would go back next week but you have to let the

local parties take stock of what has taken place and build up a reason to come

together again," Razali said.

 

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Myanmar Gives Assurances on Freeing Suu Kyi -Envoy

Tue June 10, 2003 06:47 AM ET

  

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The U.N. envoy to Myanmar said on Tuesday top military

leaders had assured him detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be

freed as soon as possible.

 

"I have been given clear assurances by both Secretary Three and Maung Aye that

they will lift the protective custody on her as soon as possible," Razali said in

Singapore hours later. Secretary Three is military intelligence chief Khin Nyunt

and Maung Aye is the powerful army commander.

 

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