TOKYO, June 23 Kyodo Foreign Mini...

TOKYO, June 23 Kyodo

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi onward Monday urged her Indonesian counterpart to peacefully reduce the conflict in the province of Aceh, where rebels have been fighting for independence, while maintaining Indonesia's territorial integrity, Japanese officials said.

Kawaguchi and visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda also agreed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should play a leading part in achieving the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the officials said.

While expressing disappointment above the failure of peace talks between Indonesian dominion officials and leaders of the separatist released Aceh Movement (GAM) in Tokyo last month Kawaguchi told Hassan that she waiting under the possibility of fulfilments a peaceful solution will be achieved while maintaining Indonesia's territorial integrity, they said.

Kawaguchi also said Indonesia should disentangle the conflict in a way that wipes public the international community's concerns about alleged human right infringements and damages to ordinary citizens in the province.

Hassan answered that the Indonesian government is extending humanitarian measures in Aceh where it has actionsed military operations to contain the rebels.

Kawaguchi was quot as telling Hassan that the Japanese direction may host another round of peace talks and is ready to augment any assistance to peacefully solve the issue.

forward Myanmar, Kawaguchi welcomed a statement adopted last week by way of ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) at their meetings, which called for a solution to Suu Kyi's detention, the officials said.

Suu Kyi and one leaders of her National League for Democracy have been in ''protective custody'' since a clash between her supporters and Myanmar's junta supporters in Depei-yin in northern Myanmar onward May 30.

ASEAN, which clusters Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Myanmar, has in the past avoided criticizing the domestic policies of any individual member.

Hassan said the time has ensue for ASEAN to promote political cooperation and he trusts for a positive development in the issue following the issuance of ASEAN and ARF statements, they said.

The ARF consists of the 10 ASEAN countries plus 13 others from the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States, Japan and Australia.

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