MANILA, May 6 — The Philippines, as the ASEAN chair this year, has requested Myanmar to grant its special envoy “brief access” to Aung San Suu Kyi following her reported transfer to house arrest.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the Foreign Affairs Department (DFA) said this would allow its special envoy, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, to fulfil her role of engaging “all stakeholders and parties to create an environment conducive to inclusive national dialogue.”
It added that the Philippines welcomes the reported transfer of Suu Kyi, noting that this provides a “good momentum” to show Myanmar’s efforts towards the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
Meanwhile, Manila has also asked Naypyidaw for “greater transparency” regarding the deposed Myanmar leader’s house arrest by allowing her to communicate with her family.
Doing so would “demonstrate a genuine commitment to national reconciliation.”
The DFA similarly welcomed the broad amnesty Myanmar granted to more than 1,500 political prisoners in observance of the Full Moon Day of Kason.
“We view these developments as vital steps in a sequence of confidence-building measures necessary for long-term national stability in Myanmar,” it said.
