Canada fears 'oppressive conditions' for Myanmar elections

OTTAWA — Canada has "serious concerns" that elections in Myanmar (Burma) later this year will be held under "oppressive conditions," Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said Monday.

"While Canada welcomes the Burmese military regime's commitment to hold democratic elections, we have serious concerns that the elections will be held under oppressive conditions and that they will not be conducted in line with international standards," Cannon said in a statement.


"Canada calls on the regime to live up to its commitments to hold free and fair elections by unconditionally releasing all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, engaging in genuine dialogue with members of the democratic opposition and different ethnic groups within Burma, and enabling full democratic participation in the process."



 Suu Kyi, who has spent much of the past 20 years in detention and is seen as the biggest threat to the junta, is barred as a serving prisoner from standing.


Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory in 1990 but was never allowed to take office. It is boycotting the vote, saying the rules are unfair.