Indonesia has joined the growing list of Burma's neighbors criticizing Rangoon's decision to hold talks on a new constitution without the pro-democracy opposition.
A statement issued by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Wednesday said the process of national reconciliation in Burma is falling short of what the international community expected. It called on Burma's military government to include all ethnic and political groups in the process of writing a new constitution.
The Indonesian ministry also urged Rangoon to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under military house arrest for the last year.
Indonesia chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes Burma. It joined Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and others in urging that the constitutional convention under way in Rangoon include representatives of all groups.
Delegates at the convention held a third day of meetings Wednesday. The main opposition National League for Democracy party is boycotting, after the military turned down calls to release its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Information for this story is provided by AP and AFP.