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U.S. and ASEAN chair call for unconditional release of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The U.S. State Department and the ASEAN chair have called for the unconditional release of Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi.
  • The calls follow her meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after years of detention.
  • Both entities urged expanded access to all political prisoners in Myanmar and reiterated their demand for Suu Kyi's complete release.

The United States and the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reiterated their demands for the unconditional release of Myanmar's detained former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other political prisoners. This joint call comes after Suu Kyi met with a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the first time in years, raising hopes about her health and well-being following her detention after the February 2021 coup.

We urge the further expansion of access to persons held in detention in Myanmar since February 2021, and reiterate our call for their release, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s complete and unconditional release.

— ASEAN chairStatement regarding the call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Both the U.S. State Department and the ASEAN chair welcomed the ICRC visit, expressing hope that it signals the beginning of regular access for medical care and other needs to the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate. "We urge the further expansion of access to persons held in detention in Myanmar since February 2021, and reiterate our call for their release, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s complete and unconditional release," stated the ASEAN chair.

The State Department echoed these sentiments on social media, posting, "We hope this visit marks the beginning of regular humanitarian access to Aung San Suu Kyi and serves as a pathway to greater access to all political prisoners." The department also called for her "immediate and unconditional release." Additionally, the U.S. urged Myanmar's military junta to engage in dialogue to end the ongoing conflict that erupted after the coup.

We hope this visit marks the beginning of regular humanitarian access to Aung San Suu Kyi and serves as a pathway to greater access to all political prisoners.

— U.S. State DepartmentExpressing hope for continued access following the ICRC visit.

The ASEAN chair reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to its Five-Point Consensus peace plan and the role of its special envoy in engaging all parties in Myanmar. The statement expressed anticipation for the special envoy to be granted access to visit Myanmar and meet with all relevant parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The Philippines currently holds the chairmanship of the 11-member ASEAN bloc for 2026.

and called for her "immediate and unconditional release".

— U.S. State DepartmentReiterating the demand for Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom.
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Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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