The Philippines' foreign secretary says he has failed to get a response from Burma to other countries' concerns about the military government's slow progress on democratic reforms.
Returning to Manila from a three-day trip to Burma, Alberto Romulo said today he repeated an appeal from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for Burma to release political activists, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Romulo met the military junta's five top leaders, including General Than Shwe, last week. He said he did not meet Aung San Suu Kyi.
ASEAN member nations have complained about Burma's poor human rights record and say its reluctance to make democratic reforms is damaging the group's reputation around the world.
The Philippines recently took the chair of ASEAN from Malaysia, which had also criticized Burma's government.
