UN special envoy Razali Ismail has renewed his request to the Burmese government to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi after Rangoon showed no signs of willingness to do so even in the face of international condemnation.

Razali said he has written to Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister Maung Win seeking an explanation as to why the government is still holding Suu Kyi a month after her arrest by military intelligence officials.

"The international community is becoming increasingly alarmed every day that her release is delayed. I am regularly in touch with the government to inquire about their plans, so they are fully aware of my expectations over her release," he told malaysiakini.

Razali said a resurgence of reports speculating that Suu Kyi's health is deteriorating is further intensifying concern over her well being.

"I don't know (how long more they will hold her) but I am worried," he said.

The envoy is the only outsider to have seen Suu Kyi since her arrest on May 30 following violent clashes between her supporters and government-sponsored groups at a Burmese northern town.

On his return to Kuala Lumpur on June 10 after an urgent mission to Rangoon, the envoy had said he expected the Burmese government to release her within two weeks.

However, the one month anniversary of Suu Kyi's arrest passed yesterday with no sign of an imminent release.

No aid to Burma

On his recent trips to Japan and Indonesia, Razali said it was part of his job as envoy to explain to any interested party the situation in Burma.

"I am happy that Japan has shown that they are equally sensitive to the outcry (over Suu Kyi's arrest) and indicated that they are going to hold back any new aid programmes to Burma," he said.

The envoy said he understood from his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi that Japan would provide no new assistance to Burma although existing programmes would go on for the meantime.

"If she continues to be incarcerated, I don't see how (Japan) can continue to give any assistance at all," he said.

Razali confirmed that he did indicate to Kawaguchi last week that Suu Kyi is being held "in a house within a prison compound".

"There has already been speculation because of the statement by the British Foreign Minister so I (cannot) just keep quiet," he said.

Suu Kyi's whereabouts were revealed when the British Foreign Office issued a statement on June 19 saying that the democracy activist was being held at Rangoon's Insein prison.

This has been denied by the Burmese junta which said she is being held under "protective custody", ostensibly for her safety.

Follow-up steps

Razali also elaborated on his meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, saying that he had been assured by the new Asean chair that the association would take follow-up steps to push for Suu Kyi's release.

"We also spoke about the possibility for an Asean Troika to address this issue," he explained.

The Asean Troika initiative was first adopted in July 2000 to allow the association to constitute an ad hoc committee to address urgent regional political and security issues. The association has not utilised this provision as yet for any regional issues.

The envoy said he also met with Asean secretary-general Ong Keng Yong in Jakarta to request the latter to coordinate Asean initiatives in line with the stand taken at the 36th Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh two weeks ago.

"(Ong) is aware that he is expected to take steps according to what was discussed in Phnom Penh. Asean has to ensure that the basic standards and values applicable to the region are upheld," he said.

In an unusual departure from its non-interference policy, Asean had issued a joint statement at the end of the two-day meeting saying that its members "looked forward to the early lifting of restrictions placed on Aung San Suu Kyi".

The association's move is believed to be in response to strong international pressure, particularly by the United States, to take a position on Suu Kyi's detention.

No response

In a related development, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he had still not received a response from the Burmese government on his request to see Suu Kyi in Rangoon.

"I believe we are still communicating with Myanmar (Burma) on the matter," he said yesterday.

Syed Hamid was quoted in newspapers last week as saying that he had sought permission from the Burmese government to visit Suu Kyi in Rangoon.

He also said her detention had damaged Asean's reputation and that it was a setback for the regional association, which has advocated a policy of 'constructive engagement' with Burma to deal with the long-running saga.