Free political prisoners, follow agreement
Envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) called on Myanmar's junta to free all political prisoners and discussed implementing a regional "consensus" to end turmoil since the February 1 coup, the regional bloc said.
Myanmar's junta has shown little sign of heeding April's five-point agreement among the 10 Asean countries, including Myanmar, which calls for an end to violence, political talks and the naming of a regional special envoy.
The Asean envoys met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, on Friday.
The Asean statement dated June 5 said the objective of the visit was to discuss how Myanmar would reach "a peaceful solution in the interests of its people" by implementing the five points.
It said they had also "called for the release of all political prisoners, including women and children and foreigners" - an appeal that was not on the consensus but is supported by many Asean members.
Reuters was unable to reach a junta spokesman for comment.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said the meeting covered "implementation of the recommendation of initial survey of Asean" and "terror acts" by junta opponents and the army's plan to hold elections.
The junta has failed to impose control since seizing power from elected leader Aug San Suu Kyi, who is among more than 4,500 people detained since the coup. At least 849 have been killed, a rights group says. The army disputes that figure.
Opponents of the junta have voiced frustration at the lack of tough action by Asean. Myanmar's crisis is also expected to be a topic at a special Asean-Chinese foreign ministers meeting in Chongqing this week. The junta's foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, will also attend.
Suu Kyi will go on trial next week, her lawyer said yesterday, with the Nobel laureate facing an eclectic raft of charges, from possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies to flouting coronavirus restrictions during elections last year.
"We will get testimonies from plaintiffs and witnesses starting from next hearing," lawyer Min Min Soe said after meeting her in the capital Naypyidaw.
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