M

ilitary-ruled Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein will pay an official visit to Indonesia from March 16-17.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Gen. Thein Sein would hold talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to "discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues" in his first visit to the country since assuming his present post in 2007.

"Indonesia has regarded Myanmar as a friend, and the bilateral relations between both countries have gone well, as seen in the frequency of visits by officials from both sides," Dino said in a statement on Friday.

Rafendi Djamin, coordinator for the Human Rights Watch Group (HRWG), said the junta leader's visit would have an adverse impact on Indonesia, as it would be unlikely to produce any significant results for the rights progress in a country where thousands of people, including democratic icon Aung San Suu Kyi, were detained for political reasons.

"There is no point holding a dialogue with a country that has no commitment to building a democracy and releasing its political prisoners," he said.

Legislator Djoko Susilo said the government should also discuss the plight of hundreds of Rohingya boatpeople from Myanmar now stranded in Indonesia after attempts to escape prosecution by the junta and economic hardship, during the Myanmar leader's visit.

"The government must use the chance to urge Myanmar to take the boatpeople back and ensure that they will be treated well," he said.

"The government should also press Myanmar for a commitment to upholding democracy, especially releasing opposition leader Suu Kyi."