Myanmar's Suu Kyi wants talks with United Nations - Summary

Thu, 18 Nov 2010

New York - Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday called for an "early visit" by a United Nations envoy and for talks on the challenges facing people in the country, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.

Ban conferred by telephone with Suu Kyi for the first time since her release from house arrest last week by the ruling military government.

Suu Kyi expressed her "desire to engage with him (UN envoy) for pushing ahead in addressing the challenges facing the people in Myanmar. She also suggested an early meeting with the head of the UN office in Yangon," Ban said in a statement about the conversation.

Ban said he reiterated his and the UN's commitment "to continue to uphold the cause of human rights and support all efforts by the government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other stakeholders to build a united, peaceful, democratic and modern future of their country."

The two were said to have held a "warm and cordial conversation" during which Ban expressed his respect for Suu Kyi's "courage and dignity as a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world."

Ban and Suu Kyi said the release of all political prisoners is a matter of priority so they can freely take part in the process of national reconciliation and democratic transition in Myanmar.

The military government won re-election earlier this month, based on a new constitution that barred Suu Kyi from running for public office. Following its victory, the government set her free from house arrest, where she had spent most of the past two decades in confinement.

Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the country's 1990 election, but the results were disqualified by the military government. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for demanding democracy in her country.

Ban last visited Myanmar in 2009, and was criticized by human rights groups after he offered positive words about the country's ruling generals, while failing to gain access to meet with Suu Kyi.

The UN General Assembly passed a resolution on the situation in Myanmar on Thursday, condemning the continued violations of human rights and detention of political prisoners.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said the resolution was an improvement over last year's, but it failed to focus on the "sham" election and release of Suu Kyi.

It said Suu Kyi's release was "cynically designed to divert attention from the continued military rule and the detention of more than 2,200 other political prisoners," said Philippe Bolopion, UN advocacy director for the organization.

"While we applaud this resolution, given the military junta's history of ignoring past demands of the General assembly, we urge the UN system to start working towards the creation of an international commission of inquiry to look into possible crimes against humanity committed in the country," Bolopion said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/354215,united-nations-summary.html.