International Community calls on ASEAN to step up pressure on Myanmar for Aung San Suu Kyi's release by Razali Ismail UN Wire 4:05pm 8th Jul, 2004   July 7, 2004    The U.N. special envoy to Myanmar expressed pessimism yesterday about the chances of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi being released from house arrest any time soon and called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to press Myanmar harder for democratic reforms, Associated Press reports.    The envoy, Malaysia's Razali Ismail, met with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Win Aung at an ASEAN meeting last week, which Myanmar joined in 1997, and asked about the possible release of Suu Kyi.    "He said Suu Kyi would be released, but he didn't say when.  There are no indications at all," Razali told reporters. When asked if the Nobel Peace Prize laureate would be released by the time ASEAN meets again in Laos in November, Razali said, "I am not so sure, I don't think so."    ASEAN faces ever-increasing cries from the international community to pressure Myanmar into releasing Suu Kyi. ASEAN has been reluctant to do so, as its guiding principle is a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its member states. The European Union has threatened to cancel an October meeting with the Southeast Asians if ASEAN insists Myanmar be included.    "You can see the continuing problems of Myanmar have begun to have more and more impact on the business of ASEAN and business of the EU," Razali said.    Myanmar's military seized power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations.  When Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party won a 1990 election, the junta refused to cede power.    "ASEAN should talk more, persuade or even cajole the government," Razali said.
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