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Kyodo

Monday October 18, 3:00 PM

E. Timor's Ramos-Horta calls for release of Myanmar's Suu Kyi

East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta said Monday the international community needs to make much greater efforts to secure the release of Myanmar democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1996, strongly condemned the behavior of the military regime in Myanmar against Suu Kyi, who won the Peace Prize in 1991.

Terming her years-long detention and house arrest "totally unacceptable," Ramos-Horta charged the Myanmar junta "were making a mockery" of their own friends in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations "and of everybody."

"It is a big issue for Aung San Suu Kyi, and the behavior of the Burmese (Myanmar) military toward her is becoming a real affront to the international community, becoming an affront to our conscience," Ramos-Horta said.

He made the remarks as he prepared to depart on a four-day trip from Monday to Germany, accompanying East Timor President Xanana Gusmao on an official visit.