Suu Kyi's detention set to overshadow Asean summit

Tourists walk by huge portraits of the leaders of 10 Asean member countries displayed in Bali's capital center of Denpasar yesterday. The Asean leaders will hold a two-day meet here from today to forge tighter security and economic bonds amid the threat of terrorism in the region. Photo: AFP

But the Asean meeting looks set to be overshadowed by the continued detention of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Plans for increased economic integration are also on the agenda.

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Bali was chosen as the summit venue to show confidence in the resort, after a bomb killed 202 people there last year.

"This summit is a... vote of confidence in the stability and security in Indonesia, in particular Bali," Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda said.

But security is extraordinarily tight in the run-up to the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) conference, with police checking vehicles for bombteaches.

The new Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt left for Bali yesterday on what promises to be a difficult summit appearance.

The ruling junta has refused to release Ms Suu Kyi despite international condemnation and the announcement of sanctions by the United States and the European Union.

Although the issue of Myanmar is not on the formal summit agenda, there is no doubt that it will figure prominently throughout the meeting, says the BBC's Burma analyst Larry Jagan.

International pressure has been building on Asean to overcome its tradition of non-interference in the affairs of member states, and take tough action against Burma's military junta.

In July the group took the unprecedented step of calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's release, but with little change since then, some critics say Asean should take more drastic action.

However, Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win was quoted as saying yesterday: "It is our understanding that Indonesia

(The host of this year's meeting) does not want domestic issues of any member to be highlighted during the summit."

Instead, the Burmese delegates are hoping to stick to the issues of trade and security, which are the intended topics for discussion at the summit.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday that the recent collapse of World Trade Organisation talks in Mexico was a wake-up call for regional groups such as Asean to work together on trade issues.