THAILAND: U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon demands Myanmar hold fair elections and release all political prisoners

Record ID: 561681

  • Title: THAILAND: U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon demands Myanmar hold fair elections and release all political prisoners
  • Date: 27th October 2010
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (OCTOBER 26, 2010) (REUTERS) THAI FLAGS AND U.N. FLAGS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON AND PRIME MINISTER ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "We will really be expecting that this election will be a fair one and credible one and an inclusive one. In that regard, it is not too late even now that by releasing the political detainees, they can make this election more inclusive and participatory." MEDIA BAN AND ABHISIT DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "It will be even more important after election that how inclusive government it will form, as a result of election, reflecting the wishes and will of the people that will be a test of Myanmar government how they will be able to meet expectation of international community." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON, SAYING: "United Nations is now committed to engage in a longer term relationship with Myanmar. I'm very much encouraged by such a strong welcome and support by ASEAN and ASEM, recently demonstrated by the summit meeting and I will continue to exercise, to do my role." BAN AND ABHISIT AT NEWS CONFERENCE BAN LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1R27HR32B9AXNIFO5PI2V1R
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday (October 26) urged Myanmar's military rulers to ensure next month's election was inclusive and transparent during his four-nations tour in Bangkok.
    Ban said the United Nations was committed to long-term engagement with a new Myanmar government to be formed after the Nov. 7 election, which would gain more credibility if all political prisoners were freed immediately.
    "We will really be expecting that this election will be a fair one and credible one and inclusive one. In that regard, it is not too late even now that by releasing the political detainees, they can make this election more inclusive and participatory," Ban told news conference in Bangkok before heading to Cambodia.
    An estimated 2,100 political prisoners, including student leaders, monks, pro-democracy leaders, and ethnic minority leaders are languishing in prisons across the former Burma.
    Ban said Myanmar's democratic credentials would be tested long after the election and urged the current rulers to ensure the new government would be representative of the people.
    He said it was not too late to change perceptions about the country's democratic process.
    "It will be even more important after election that how inclusive government it will form, as a result of election, reflecting the wishes and will of the people that will be a test of Myanmar government how they will be able to meet expectation of international community," said Ban.
    After the Thailand trip, the U.N. chief will visit Cambodia and then head to Vietnam to attend a summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) where he will hold talks with Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein.
    "United Nations is now committed to engage in a longer term relationship with Myanmar. I'm very much encouraged by such a strong welcome and support by ASEAN and ASEM, recently demonstrated by the summit meeting and I will continue to exercise, to do my role," said Ban.
    The election will be the first since the 1990 elections won by detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party but ignored by the junta. The NLD is boycotting upcoming polls it says are "unfair and unjust".
    Foreign observers and journalists will be barred from covering the vote, which critics say is a sham to ensure the military and its proxies remain in power either via the ballot box or a process of appointments.
    According to Myanmar's 2008 constitution, parliament will choose a president, who will appoint ministers, rather than hold parliamentary elections. Lawmakers can only challenge the appointees if they are deemed unqualified.
    Critics have dismissed the Nov. 7 ballot as a charade to maintain the status quo, leaving military rule in civilian clothing.
    A quarter of the seats in parliament are set aside for military generals while the remainder of the seats seem certain to go to retired army officers or their cronies.
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