United Nations: With the elections in
Myanmar likely to take place later this year, UN Chief Ban
Ki-moon has asked for the release of all political prisoners
including detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a letter to top leader, Senior General Than Shwe,
the Secretary-General emphasised that without the
participation of all parties the elections will not be
inclusive.
"Most importantly, all the political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi, should be released as soon as
possible, so that all of them can take part in elections.
That would make the elections inclusive and credible," Ban
told journalists here, noting that the letter was sent ten
days ago.
"I repeatedly emphasised that without the
participation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all key political
prisoners, the elections would not be inclusive," he added.
No date for the poll has been set, but the ruling
generals have promised that it will be sometime this year.
Critics say the elections, the first to be held in
Burma for 20 years, will be a sham designed to entrench the
military`s grip on power.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, 64, has been under
detention for most of the past two past decades. She is the
leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD),
which won the national elections in 1990.
In February, the United Nations` special envoy on
human rights in Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, was again denied a
meeting Suu Kyi.
Last year, Suu Kyi , was sentenced to 18 months of
house detention for violating terms of her detention after an
uninvited American swam ashore to her house where she was
already being held.
Her lawyer appealed against the decision in November,
and now turning down her appeal will prevent her from running
in the first elections in almost 20 years scheduled for 2010.
The US and other Western nations have been imposing
sanctions because of Myanmar?s refusal to release Suu Kyi, and
the military junta is accused of human rights violations in
the country. In the past, China and Russia have vetoed
Security Council resolutions against Myanmar.
Last month, Tin Oo, 82, the deputy leader of the NLD
was released after six years in detention.
Ban underlined that the letter to General Than
underlined the "lack of progress" being made and the need for
elections to be carried out in an inclusive manner.
"For that purpose, there should be administrative
measures taken," he said.
Regarding the recent announcement of election laws by
the regime, Ban said, "That is what I had been urging the
Myanmar authorities to do as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, Myanmar released the first of five of
these laws by announcing the criteria of the forming of an
election commission.
Bureau Report
