PHNOM PENH, June 19 (Reuters) Myanmar's foreign minister launched a spirited defence of his country's military rulers today, denying US accusations of brutality but setting no date for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"We are not a brutal people," foreign minister Win Aung told a news conference on the fringes of a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) being held in Cambodia.
"If we were brutal, there would be signs of brutality all across the country.
We are not a heartless people," he said.
The detention since May 30 of the Nobel peace laureate has dominated the ASEAN ministerial meeting and yesterday, US secretary of state Colin Powell, attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) security meeting, also weighed in against Myanmar's reclusive generals, accusing them of being "brutal rulers." After days and nights of unprecedented public and private ear-bashing by his colleagues, Yangon's beleaguered foreign minister hit back, saying Suu Kyi's detention was only temporary and done for the good of the country.
"Myanmar should have the opportunity to enjoy peace like other people," he said.
"We don't want to go back to the days of bloodshed." He added that the junta remained committed to its long-stated path towards multi-party democracy and said Suu Kyi would be released but, on her 58th birthday, was unable to offer any timescale.
"We don't have any animosity against Aung San Suu Kyi.
In fact, Aung San Suu Kyi and myself, we were born in the same year.
It means we come from the same generation, and the same generation means `let us work together'," he said.
About us | Advertisers | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Advertising Weather Weather | Letters | Search | Suggestions | Send Mail | Vaishnodevi ________________________________________________________ (c) 2003, The Kashmir Times Press Pvt.
Ltd., Residency Road, Jammu Tawi.