UNITED NATIONS – UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said yesterday he sent a letter to Burma’s junta chief to voice concern over the credibility of this year’s nationwide election, the country’s first in 20 years.
Mr Ban said he wrote to Gen Than Shwe 10 days ago “expressing my concern about this lack of progress” on democratic reforms, and emphasising the importance of ensuring this year’s vote is “most credible, inclusive and transparent”.
Burma has long been the focus of global pressure over the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Human rights groups say there are more than 2,000 political prisoners in Burma, but the military junta says those held are common criminals.
Burma’s rulers have been accused of persecuting ethnic minorities, sparking a continuing exodus. Some 140,000 refugees live in camps along the Thai-Burmese border, according to a UN refugee agency.
Mr Ban urged the junta to empty the country’s jails of political dissidents so they can take part in a nationwide election planned for this year. “All the political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, released as soon as possible, so that all of them can participate,” he told reporters in New York.
The poll, a date for which has yet to be revealed, has been widely derided as a bid by the junta to make the state seem democratic.
Mr Ban was asked about official Burmese news reports that the country had adopted a long-awaited election law. He said he “took note” of the announcement and was seeking details. “Without participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all key political prisoners, this election will not be an inclusive one,” he said.
Burma’s Supreme Court last month rejected an appeal by pro-democracy leader Ms Suu Kyi against her house arrest, a ruling that UN officials said privately only cast further doubt on the legitimacy of the planned election.
Ms Suu Kyi, detained for 15 of the past 21 years, was sentenced to a further 18 months of house arrest in August 2009 for allowing an uninvited American to stay in her lakeside home after he swam over to see her. Mr Ban said at the time he was “disappointed” that the appeal of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate had been rejected.
Ms Suu Kyi won Burma’s last election in 1990. The junta leaders ignored the results. – (Reuters)