THE INTERNATIONAL community should exert more pressure on Burma’s military junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners ahead of elections due to take place later this year, a representative of the country’s self-proclaimed government-in-exile has said during a visit to Dublin.
Thaung Htun, who represents the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma at the UN, was in Ireland to attend a conference organised by human rights body Front Line. He also met Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and members of the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee.
Dr Htun called for a dialogue on the framework of the election and a review of the constitution, as well as the granting of freedom of association and assembly, and the lifting of press restrictions, ahead of the ballot expected in October. “The credibility of the election is very questionable,” he said.
Dr Htun said that while hopes had been raised late last year when US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell was allowed to meet opposition figures including Aung San Suu Kyi, little had been achieved since: “The atmosphere right now in Burma is very tense.”
After meeting Dr Htun this week, chairman of the Oireachtas foreign affairs committee Michael Woods said this year’s elections would be a “sham” if Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest and her party is still denied freedom of association and assembly. “As a first step, all political prisoners must be released,” he said. “There is a window of opportunity now to bring international pressure to bear on the military junta to amend the proposed election law to allow for free and fair elections. The democratic will of the people of Burma has been denied for 48 years.”