The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, May 6, welcomed reports on the transfer of Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest and called on Myanmar authorities to allow greater transparency following the move.

“We view these developments as vital steps in a sequence of confidence-building measures necessary for long-term national stability in Myanmar,” the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA pointed out that the reported transfer of Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest, along with the partial reduction of her sentence and the amnesty granted to more than 1,500 political prisoners, were “vital steps” toward long-term national stability in Myanmar.

“To further build international confidence, we encourage Myanmar to provide greater transparency regarding this transfer by allowing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to communicate with her family, which would demonstrate a genuine commitment to national reconciliation,” the DFA said.

The developments coincided with the observance of the Full Moon Day of Kason.

The Philippines, the DFA said, also expressed hope that Myanmar would “grant the request of the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar to have brief access to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as such would be in line with the Special Envoy’s role to engage with all stakeholders and parties to create an environment conducive to inclusive national dialogue.”

According to the DFA, allowing Suu Kyi to communicate with her family and permitting limited access to the ASEAN special envoy would help build international confidence and demonstrate Myanmar’s commitment to national reconciliation.

The Philippine government added that such efforts are consistent with the role of the ASEAN special envoy in engaging all stakeholders to foster an environment conducive to inclusive national dialogue.

The DFA further said the recent developments could provide momentum for Myanmar to intensify its efforts to implement the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Five-Point Consensus, the regional bloc’s framework aimed at addressing the political crisis in Myanmar.

“These recent developments offer good momentum for Myanmar to show further concrete efforts toward the full and effective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, and to enable them to be part of solutions for national peace and national reconciliation that are Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led,” the DFA said.