Burma stays silent on Suu Kyi's fate as dissidents are freed

The Burmese junta announced the release of 91 political prisoners yesterday, but kept silent on the fate of the charismatic opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The 1991 Nobel peace laureate is being held in "protective custody".

By freeing her National League for Democracy (NLD) supporters, many of whom were jailed seven weeks ago after a clash with a pro- government mob left scores dead, the military authorities in Rangoon made the first concession since their renewed crackdown on dissent.

European and Asian leaders began a two-day summit on the Indonesian island of Bali, where criticism of the Burmese generals topped the agenda. Foreign ministers debated how to phrase a statement aimed at "nagging the Burmese junta into releasing Madam Aung San Suu Kyi". No Burmese diplomats were at the summit.

European ministers insist on condemnation of Burma for suppressing democracy, while Asia prefers a softer approach. The Prime Ministers of Thailand and Malaysia publicly differed over the best action to take. Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Prime Minister, asked that the generals be allowed more time to reform. But Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian Prime Minister, threatened to expel Burma from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) unless Ms Suu Kyi, 58, was freed straight away, He was backed by Razali Ismail, the United Nations special envoy to Burma and the only outsider to see Ms Suu Kyi since her arrest on 30 May.

The widow had been held in a dingy two-room hut on prison grounds, before being moved by government officials to an undisclosed location. She has spent nearly eight years under arrest, after a landslide win at elections in 1991. Mr Razali said Asean had a right to demand certain standards from its members, but he has also told Ms Suu Kyi not to antagonise the generals and impede future peace talks.

Government newspapers in Rangoon recently published vitriolic articles attacking the "arrogant Auntie Suu" and blaming her for encouraging unrest with incendiary speeches at NLD political rallies earlier this summer.

Chris Patten, the European Union external affairs commissioner, said the generals "should listen to what the rest of the world, and particularly their neighbours, are saying".

Rangoon finds itself under increased pressure, with threats of economic sanctions being issued by the United States and Europe. Japan cut off foreign aid after its envoy was refused a meeting with Ms Suu Kyi last month.

John Jackson, director of the Burma Campaign UK, said Britain's policy towards Burma should be overhauled. He is advocating a boycott of foreign companies doing business in Rangoon and a ban on new investment.

"There would be goodwill in the international community if Than Shwe [the Burmese leader] showed vision and leadership," he told the exiled Burmese press. "We would much rather be lobbying our politicians to give aid to a newly democratic Burma than be calling for sanctions against the country. However, it is clear now that Than Shwe his taking Burma blindly towards social and political chaos."