Ban Says ‘Credible’ Election Depends on Suu Kyi’s Freedom

WAHINGTON — United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he told Burma’s junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe that Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners should be released if the regime wants the 2010 election to be “credible.”

“I urged Snr-Gen Than Shwe that this election should be fair and free, but also legitimate, inclusive and credible.  To be credible and legitimate, Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners should be released,” Ban told reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Monday after briefing the UN Security Council on his talks with the Burmese junta in Naypyidaw earlier this month.


UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo: AFP)
“I emphasized 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,” Ban said.

Suu Kyi has spent most of the past 19 years under house arrest and is currently on trial in Rangoon, charged with violating the terms of her detention order. Even if she were free, she is barred by the junta-formulated constitution from standing for public office in an election.

Ban told the 15-member Security Council the junta’s refusal to allow him to meet with Suu Kyi was not only a deep disappointment, but also a major lost opportunity for Burma.

“While this should not define our efforts, allowing such a meeting would have sent a constructive and conciliatory signal, both inside and outside Myanmar [Burma],” he said.

Ban said he had raised with the generals a range of fundamental issues of concern for the future of the country.

During his two meetings with Than Shwe and then subsequently with the Burmese Prime Minister, Ban said he made specific proposals with a particular focus on three outstanding concerns which, he argued, if left unaddressed, could undermine any confidence in Burma’s political process.

He defined the three issues as the release of all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi; the resumption of a substantive dialogue between the junta and the opposition; and 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 [Burma] in a way that can be broadly accepted by the international community,” Ban said.

Any successful transition would require overcoming the country’s twin legacy of political deadlock and civil conflict and it was in the interest of all to ensure that any gains made so far become irreversible, he said.

“While the government has a primary obligation to address the concerns of all stakeholders, every stakeholder has a role to play and a responsibility to assume in the interest of the nation,” Ban added.

He said Than Shwe had “pledged to make the elections free and fair.” 

“But I said then, and reiterate today, that it is up to the Myanmar [Burmese] authorities to translate this into concrete action, to ensure the inclusiveness and credibility of the process and to demonstrate concretely Myanmar’s [Burma’s] commitment to cooperate with the international community,” Ban told the Security Council.

Ban said he conveyed in the clearest terms what is expected of Burmese military leaders. “It is up to them to respond positively in their country’s own interest,” he said.