Seoul `deeply concerned` with trial of Myanmar`s Suu Kyi: minister

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government is deeply concerned by the
trial of detained Myanmarese activist and Nobel Peace Price laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi, urging the release of the opposition leader who was charged with allegedly
violating terms of her house arrest.
"Our government is greatly concerned about the circumstances of Aung San Suu Kyi.
We are hoping for (her) quick release after (she) receives a fair trial," Yu
Myung-hwan, South Korea's foreign minister, said at a press conference in Seoul.
Suu Kyi, the 63-year-old leader of Myanmar's opposition National League for
Democracy, was charged with violating the terms of her house arrest earlier this
month after an uninvited American intruder swam to her lakeside home. The trial
opened Monday amid tight security.
She has been in detention without trial for more than 13 of the past 19 years.
The Seoul government also hopes that Myanmar's ruling military junta will "travel
the path of democracy through substantial talks" with all political powers,
including with Suu Kyi, the minister said.
"We are considering delivering our concerns (on the matter) to the international
community through a bilateral meeting between the leaders (of South Korea and
Myanmar) that is expected to be held at the upcoming ASEAN-Korea Commemorative
Summit," said Yu.
South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will mark
their 20th year of diplomatic relations next month with a special summit meeting
scheduled to be held in Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on June 1-2.
Myanmar and nine other countries from Southeast Asia comprise ASEAN's members.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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