PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                *             Tel. No. 834-4000               *              www.dfa.gov.ph
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No. 289;  11 June 2003


OPLE WELCOMES INITIAL REPORT THAT AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS SAFE

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople welcomed initial reports coming from U.N. Special Envoy Razali Ismail that Aung San Suu Kyi is safe and unharmed.  News reports quote Ambassador Razali as saying that Madam Suu Kyi “did not have a scratch on her.”

“This is welcome news indeed.  I also hope that the decision of the Myanmar Government to agree to the request of Ambassador Razali to see and talk to Madam Suu Kyi is indicative of the desire of the government to begin heeding the call of the international community, particularly on matters relating to the rights and freedom of Madam Suu Kyi,” Secretary Ople said.

Last week, Secretary Ople summoned Myanmar Ambassador U Tin Htun to the Department of Foreign Affairs to convey the concerns of the Philippines over the safety and freedom of Madam Suu Kyi (please see DFA Press Release No. 281-03; 06 June 2003). 

During that meeting last Friday, Secretary Ople told Ambassador U Tin Htun that the Philippines fervently hoped that Myanmar would allow Ambassador Razali to meet with Madam Suu Kyi and that the Philippines looked forward to the release of Madam Suu Kyi.

Diplomats and members of Myanmar's opposition feared Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Laureate, may have been hurt in the clash between supporters and a pro-government group at the end of May.

“Now that we know that she is found to be safe, we hope to see the day when she will be freed,” Secretary Ople said.  He added that he would also like to hear a more complete report on the findings of Ambassador Razali.

Secretary Ople will have the opportunity to meet with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar and other ASEAN Foreign Ministers during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ and Related Meetings in Phnom Penh on 12-19 June 2003.  He said that he may take the opportunity to informally inquire from the Myanmar Foreign Minister on the latest developments relating to Madam Suu Kyi. END.