MANILA: The Philippines, which currently holds the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has urged Myanmar’s authorities to proceed with further releases of prisoners, explicitly naming ousted former leader Aung San Suu Kyi among those it believes should be freed.
In a statement issued on Friday in its capacity as ASEAN chair, Manila described a recent prisoner amnesty in Myanmar as a positive development, suggesting it could serve as a foundation for broader efforts aimed at fostering an inclusive national dialogue amid the country’s ongoing political crisis.
“We reaffirm our commitment to assisting Myanmar, as an integral part of ASEAN, to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the political crisis in the country,” the statement read.
The Philippine-led ASEAN statement emphasised regional support for stability and reconciliation in Myanmar, stressing that continued engagement and humanitarian-oriented measures, including prisoner releases, could help pave the way towards easing tensions and encouraging political progress, according to Reuters.
ASEAN also reiterated its long-standing position of supporting Myanmar’s reintegration into constructive regional dialogue, while encouraging steps that could contribute to national reconciliation and long-term peace.
