Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has told Burma it needs to improve its record on political reform. Mr Thaksin noted that Burma was to host the 2006 summit of the Association of South East Asian nations (Asean), and said change was needed before then.
"I think one year from now on, some things must be improved," he said.
Mr Thaksin met earlier with Burma's Prime Minister Soe Win, but did not push for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.
Mr Thaksin said pressing Burma's military rulers on the issue could be counter-productive.
He said Soe Win could not confirm reports on Monday that her detention had recently been extended.
"I asked him: What is the true story? He said he has to check. He didn't have any details yet," Mr Thaksin said, following the two men's meeting on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Laos.
Asean's leaders are worried that Burma's lack of political reform will weaken the grouping's credibility, especially if there is no progress before the 2006 summit.
But the grouping has a tradition of not publicly criticising members' internal affairs, and Mr Thaksin's comments were unusually blunt, says BBC correspondent Kylie Morris.
"When they say they are moving toward democracy, that's what it should be," the Thai prime minister said.
'Deeply disappointed'
The meeting came a day after Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said her house arrest had been extended, apparently for another year.
The United States and a UN envoy responded by calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's release and the restoration of democracy.
"We're certainly disappointed, deeply disappointed, the junta continues to ignore international calls," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, after clashes between her backers and pro-government supporters in northern Burma.
Her party won a landslide victory in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern by the military, which has run the nation since 1962.
<> "When they say they are moving toward democracy, that's what it should be," the Thai prime minister said.
'Deeply disappointed'
The meeting came a day after Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said her house arrest had been extended, apparently for another year.
The United States and a UN envoy responded by calling for Aung San Suu Kyi's release and the restoration of democracy.
"We're certainly disappointed, deeply disappointed, the junta continues to ignore international calls," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, after clashes between her backers and pro-government supporters in northern Burma.
Her party won a landslide victory in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern by the military, which has run the nation since 1962.
| AUNG SAN SUU KYI 1990: National League for Democracy (NLD) wins general election while Suu Kyi under house arrest; military does not recognise the result
1991: Wins Nobel Peace Prize 1995: Released from house arrest, but movements restricted 2000-02: Second period of house arrest May 2003: Detained after clash between NLD and government forces Sep 2003: Allowed home after surgery, but under effective house arrest |
Published: 2004/11/30 08:40:11 GMT\© BBC MMIV
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