Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport Wednesday morning following a three-day trip to Burma, where he discussed democracy and tourism with Burmese Acting Prime Minister Lieutenant General Thein Sein, officials said.
After the two men discussed democracy, the Cambodian delegation felt satisfied that Burma was working towards achieving a democratic government as it has promised in the past, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.
“We noticed the democratic process in Myanmar is in line with what their leaders have said,” Hor Namhong said.
Burma is officially known as Myanmar.
Burmese officials assured the Cambodian delegation that when its constitution is finalized all political parties would be allowed to participate in elections, Hor Namhong said. But he added that Cambodian officials did not raise the issue of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung San Suu Kyi was unanimously elected Burma’s leader in 1990, but the military never allowed her to take power and has frequently placed her, and members of her party, under arrest.
“We did not raise the issue. It is [Burma’s] internal affair,” Hor Namhong said.
Hor Namhong also said that Burma and Cambodia have agreed on direct flights between Rangoon and Siem Reap and will soon expand the flights to Phnom Penh.
Brittis Edman, international secretariat of Amnesty International’s Southeast Asia team, wrote in an e-mail that Hun Sen should use his influence within Asean to persuade other member governments to reach a strong common position on Burma.
Amnesty urges Hun Sen to call for the immediate and unconditional release of more than 1,160 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, she added.
