Burma ratifies pro-human rights charter

Despite the development, Asean foreign ministers expressed disappointment that Suu Kyi's detention under house arrest had been extended.

They repeated their call for the release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees as part of Burma's national reconciliation process.

Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win told his Asean colleagues during an informal meeting that she would be released after completion of her six years restriction term.

"He [Nyan Win] told us that the six-year limit will come up in about half a year's time," said Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo who chaired the group's meeting.

Asked if the Asean ministers were satisfied with that explanation, Yeo said: "We have long taken a position which we knew did not have the full agreement of the Myanmar [Burma] foreign minister. We understand the position he is in, and we agreed that in my statement to you, I should mention by name, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."

The group also called upon the junta to continue work closely with United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari who was scheduled to visit the country next month and urged the authority to give him full access to senior leaders and to facilitate meetings with the widest possible range of contacts, including Suu Kyi.

Burma is a major concern for the group due to its poor human rights record and suppression of democracy.

The junta's ratification, which was formalised by a ceremony yesterday here, made the charter go a step closer to full implementation with only Indonesia, the Philippines and the next chairman Thailand to sign.

The charter when it comes into force will turn Asean from an adhoc body to a rulebased organisation and would give birth to a human rights promotion and protection body.

The Asean's high level panel to set the terms of reference for the human rights body began its first meeting yesterday. The body, however, will be a paper tiger as it can take no drastic sanctions against members who violate human rights.