BANGKOK: ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar will visit 
the war-torn country on Wednesday and Thursday, Thailand's foreign minister 
said, but there was no indication whether she would meet with detained 
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

The envoy, Philippines Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, will visit the 
capital Naypyidaw, where Myanmar authorities say the 81-year-old Suu Kyi is 
being held under house arrest.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow -- whose country is a member of 
the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- said at a 
news conference in Bangkok on Tuesday the envoy's itinerary "is being worked 
out".

Myanmar's military held Suu Kyi in almost total seclusion for five years 
following the February 2021 coup, which ended a tentative decade-long 
experiment with democracy.

But in recent months authorities say they have loosened her detention and 
have published photographs of her taking private meetings, as supporters have 
demanded "proof of life".

Lazaro, who visited Myanmar in January, said in July she would visit again to 
try to expand access to humanitarian assistance in the country, which was 
plunged into civil war by the coup.

ASEAN chair the Philippines had earlier this year requested access for its 
envoy to Suu Kyi, but was rebuffed.

It repeated the request in August, after Suu Kyi met with a representative of 
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), her first publicised 
meeting with a foreign official since she was ousted.

Manila also called for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's "complete and 
unconditional release".

The Thai foreign minister was speaking at a joint media appearance with 
Malaysian Foreign Mohamad Hasan, who also confirmed the special envoy's trip.

"We hope that there'll be good progress and some progress for her to report 
on when the ASEAN foreign ministers meet in Manila prior to the ASEAN 
Summit," Sihasak said.

Analysts say Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing -- who as military chief ousted 
Suu Kyi in February 2021 -- is seeking international legitimacy after being 
installed as the country's civilian president in April.

Despite criticism from democracy watchdogs that the election putting him in 
office was a charade, he has made significant headway into being welcomed 
onto the world stage.

He has gone on numerous diplomatic trips including to China, India, and 
several ASEAN nations.

On Thursday, Suu Kyi's son Kim Aris was allowed to speak to her on the 
telephone for the first time in more than five years, in a call from 
Myanmar's London embassy.

The UK-based Aris told AFP afterwards that his mother had sounded "fairly 
healthy", but added: "I remain very concerned about her well-being."