UN presses Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi
AFP
UNITED NATIONS- UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday pressed Myanmar's military rulers to free political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, less than a week before the expected verdict in the trial of the detained democracy icon.
"I expect authorities of Myanmar will respond positively and in a timely manner to the expectation and concerns and repeated calls of the international community to release all political prisoners and particularly Aung San Suu Kyi," he told reporters.
The group brings together Australia, Indonesia, Russia, the United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, France, Norway, Thailand, India, Portugal and Britain.
Ban said the group agreed to hold a second high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next month similar to one he hosted last year.
Aung San Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if convicted of violating her house arrest rules, after an American man swam uninvited to her lakeside home in May.
On July 31, a Myanmar court postponed its verdict in Aung San Suu Kyi's trial until August 11, adding to uncertainty over the ruling junta's plans for the democracy icon.
Lawyers for the Nobel laureate said the judges announced they needed time to review the case.
Myanmar's ruling junta has kept Suu Kyi in detention for nearly 14 of the past 20 years, since it refused to recognize the NLD's landslide victory in elections in 1990.
Meanwhile Ban, who visited Myanmar last month, said he had received no clear indication from the country's rulers as to when they plan to honor their pledge for an amnesty for some political prisoners.
"I hope they will take necessary measures to implement their commitments," the UN boss said.
Last month, Myanmar's UN Ambassador Than Swe told the Security Council that his government was preparing an amnesty for some political prisoners after Ban demanded the release of key political detainees ahead of national polls planned for next year.
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