Washington, July 14: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked Myanmar’s military junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and allow her to take part in the polls, saying without her participation the proposed 2010 general elections can’t be held “credible”.
“To be credible and legitimate, Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners should be released,” Mr. Ban told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, soon after briefing the Security Council on his recent visit to Myanmar.
Several members of the powerful Security Council, including the US, Britain and France, expressed their disappointment that Mr. Ban was not allowed to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, the popular Myanmar leader, who has been under house arrest for more than 13 of the last 19 years.
China on the other hand argued the success or failure of Ban’s trip to Myanmar should not be determined by him not able to meet Ms. Suu Kyi.
Responding to reporters queries after the meeting, Mr. Ban said he made it quite clear to the Myanmar leaders that Aung San Suu Kyi in particular should be released and free to participate in the election.
“I emphasised that, without participation of Aung San Suu Kyi, without her being able to campaign freely, and without her NLD party (being able) to establish party offices all throughout the provinces, this election may not be regarded as credible and legitimate,” he said.
Earlier in his address to the Security Council, Mr. Ban said he made specific proposals to the junta with a particular focus on three outstanding concerns which, if left unaddressed, could undermine any confidence in Myanmar’s political process.
These are first release of all political prisoners, including Ms. Suu Kyi; secondly resumption of a substantive dialogue between the Government and the Opposition; finally the creation of conditions conducive to credible and legitimate elections.
`”Addressing these three concerns, including with the support of the United Nations, is therefore essential to ensure that the political process is all-inclusive and serves the interest of all the people of Myanmar in a way that can be broadly accepted by the international community,” Mr. Ban said.
The Secretary General said during his trip he made clear his expectation and that of the international community that the Burmese Government needs to deliver on the promise to make the 2010 elections inclusive, free and fair and to take necessary steps on my specific proposals in the very near future.
“In this connection, Senior General Than Shwe has pledged to make the elections free and fair. But I said then, and reiterate today, that it is up to the Myanmar authorities to translate this into concrete action, to ensure the inclusiveness and credibility of the process and to demonstrate concretely Myanmar’s commitment to cooperate with the international community,” Mr. Ban said.
–PTI