By DPA
Singapore : Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Myanmar regime chief Than Shwe that the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) fully backs the mission to Myanmar by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
“The videos and photographs of what is happening on the street of Yangon and other cities in Myanmar have evoked the revulsion of the people throughout South-East Asia and all over the world,” Lee said in a letter, writing in his capacity as Asean chairman.
“I would like to emphasise the importance which the Asean countries, and indeed the whole international community, attach to Gambari’s mission,” Lee said in Sunday’s letter released to the media Monday.
Gambari had held talks with several of Myanmar’s leaders to try to resolve the ongoing crisis in the country.
“We strongly urge your government to grant Mr. Gambari full access to all parties in Myanmar, as you have done in the past, and to work with Mr. Gambari to find a way forward,” said Lee.
The stern message came days after Asean leaders issued an unprecedented sharp rebuke of Myanmar on the sidelines of a UN meeting in New York.
Asean comprises Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma).
Gambari arrived in Yangon Sunday after an overnight stay in Naypyidaw, the new capital, where he talked to several military leaders, diplomats said. He later held talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.