Ban Ki-moon in Myanmar, Demands Suu Kyi’s Release

Before leaving for Myanmar, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met reporters in Singapore and said he would urge the junta to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and accelerate the political process:

"I will ask for the early resumption of the political dialogues between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi which has had discontinued after a certain several meetings. This political dialogue between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi should be more meaningful and credible and should be at a more senior level. And I also demand the government authorities to create political atmosphere conducive to the credible election next year."

Tough task

But even Ban Ki-moon realises the mission is not going to be that easy: "I know this is going to be a very difficult mission, but at the same time I know that to bring changes to Myanmar's political reconciliation and democratization we need to do our best. I am in fact visiting Myanmar under certain uncertainties."

An estimated 2,000 political prisoners are believed to be currently under detention in Myanmar. Opposition leader Suu kyi has herself spent more than 13 years under house arrest since 1990 when her party, the National League for Democracy, won the elections. The victory has never been recognized by the junta and the country has remained in the tight grip of military leaders.

So, the chances that the UN Secretary General’s visit will produce any significant breakthrough are not very high, says Marco Bünte, an expert on Southeast Asian affairs in Hamburg. "The release of political prisoners and Suu Kyi -- these are security issues for the junta, and I think they will not give in to these demands."

Meeting with Suu Kyi?

Within hours of the rare meeting with General Than Shwe in the country’s remote capital Naypyidaw, Ban told reporters that he had asked the junta for permission to meet Suu Kyi in person. He said he was awaiting a reply, though the junta initially rejected the call, saying she was on trial.

A disappointing development for many, but experts say it shouldn’t be seen as a complete failure. Bünte says, "Ban is meeting with four NLD members. So he will talk to at least some members of the opposition and will be able to show the support of the international community to them."

Elections are due in Myanmar in 2010. Rights activists say the polls will be considered a farce unless opposition leaders such as Suu Kyi take part. They say the fact that she has been put on trial is an attempt to keep her under detention especially in the run-up to next year's general election. If convicted she would face a prison sentence of up to five years in jail.

Meanwhile her trial has been postponed yet again and is due to resume on July 10.

Author: Disha Uppal
Editor: Grahame Lucas