Burma: Suu Kyi 'can play a role'

Burma has been ruled by its military since 1962

Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein has told Asian leaders the detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi can contribute to national reconciliation.

It was not clear if that meant Burma's military would allow her to take part in next year's elections.

The Burmese PM was speaking at the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) regional summit in Thailand.

The leaders were strongly criticised by activists for their failure to demand more of Burma on ending military rule.

"He [the Burmese premier] briefed us on some of the dialogue that is taking place and he feels optimistic that she can contribute also to the process of national reconciliation," said Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The whole thing is a bit of a farce David Mathieson Human Rights Watch

He "recognises full well that the rest of the world expects to see elections as inclusive as possible," Mr Abhisit said.

It is not clear if the reported comments mean Burma's military would allow Aung San Suu Kyi any role in next year's elections.

On Saturday, Japan's prime minister Yukio Hatoyama reported that the Burmese had said the conditions of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest could be relaxed if she showed what they called a good attitude.

This month, Burma allowed her to meet Western diplomats, after extending her detention by 18 months - a move which could ensure her absence from elections planned by the junta for next year.

Indian premier Manmohan Singh said there was an "atmosphere of hope" about improving relations between Burma and the United States, which recently began to re-engage the junta after years of hostility.

The summit leaders, from the 10-member Asean and partners China, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, had all welcomed the US engagement, Mr Abhisit added.

Ms Suu Kyi is under renewed house arrest in Rangoon

However, just three lines in a nine-page closing document were devoted to Burma, where summit leaders hoped the 2010 elections would be "fair, free, inclusive and transparent".

It made no mention of Suu Kyi, who has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years.

"The whole thing is a bit of a farce," David Mathieson, a Burma expert at Human Rights Watch, told AFP.

Asian leaders spent more time discussing plans to "lead the world" by forming an EU-style community by 2015.

There was debate at the summit over whether the community should also include the United States.

The junta has kept Ms Suu Kyi under house arrest for most of the past two decades after her National League for Democracy swept elections in 1990 but was barred from taking power.