A UN General Assembly committee today condemned Burma's recent election that pro-democracy parties said was rigged to preserve authoritarian rule in the Southeast Asian country.
Burma's biggest military-backed party earlier this month won the first election in the country in 20 years by a landslide.
The General Assembly's Third Committee, which deals with human rights, approved the resolution on the rights situation in Burma with 96 votes in favor, 28 against and 60 abstentions. This year's resolution received four more yes votes than a similar declaration garnered in 2009.
The resolution, which was sponsored by the United States, European Union and Western powers, said UN member states were "deeply regretting that the Government of Burma did not take the necessary steps to ensure a free, fair, transparent and inclusive electoral process."
The election was held with Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in detention and her party disbanded for refusing to take part in a vote it said was unfair. Suu Kyi had urged supporters to boycott the poll.
Suu Kyi, who was released on Saturday, has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention. The 65-year-old pro-democracy leader's National League for Democracy (NLD) beat an army-backed party by a landslide in a 1990 election, but that result was ignored by the country's military junta.
The resolution welcomed her release from "the most recent period of her arbitrary house arrest" and urged the junta to ensure that no restrictions are placed on the exercise of her human rights.
The resolution also said the assembly "strongly condemns the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Burma."
The Third Committee adopted a resolution condemning North Korea as well and will consider one on Iran later today. Resolutions criticising the human rights situations in Burma, Iran and North Korea have become an annual ritual at the United Nations.
The 192-nation General Assembly is expected to formally adopt all human rights resolutions in December.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon spoke with Suu Kyi by telephone today.
"The secretary-general and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi both stressed the need for the Burmese authorities to release all remaining political prisoners as a matter of priority," the UN press office said in a statement.
The UN Security Council also discussed Burma behind closed doors today but failed to agree on any kind of statement.
One diplomat said that China -- Burma's neighbour, close trading partner and protector on the 15-nation council -- told the group that the junta had organised "a wonderful election" and everyone should support the government.
Although the United States, Britain, France and other Western powers have urged council action on Burma over its human rights record, China has made clear it would use its veto power to block any punitive measures by the Security Council.
Reuters