US waiting to see Indonesia`s role for Myanmar democratization

Antara News, Wednesday, November 10, 2010 01:29 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United States is waiting for Indonesia`s role as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for 2011 with regard to democratization in Myanmar.

At a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after a meeting here on Tuesday, visiting US President Barack Obama said one of the challenges being faced by ASEAN and also the world was democratization in Myanmar.

"One of the challenges being faced by ASEAN and the world is Myanmar and I am waiting for Indonesia`s role in defending the Myanmarese and their rights," he said.

Obama said the general elections staged by Myanmar were obvioulsy not free and unfair.

"We will keep encouraging Burma to reform to democracy and assure the protection of human rights," he said.

As an initial step towards that he said Myanmar had to release all its political detainees including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

With regard to democratization in Myanmar he said the US was waiting for Indonesia`s role in it and he pledged he would return to Indonesia again to attend the East Asia Summit which would be attended by ASEAN, China, South Korea, Japan, the US and Russia.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meanwhile said Indonesia continued to hope that Myanmar could achieve its democratization as had been conveyed by its leader himself.

Besides discussing Myanmar President Yudhoyono and President Obama also discussed the prospects of peace in the Middle East especially between Palestine and Israel.

In that regard President Yudhoyono said Indonesia`s position was clear namely that the two countries should live side by side peacefully and this should be supported by the international community.