=====
Myanmar Must Respect Suu Kyi's Election Win
-Party
AFP
2-18-08 7:40 AM EST
YANGON (AFP)--Military-ruled Myanmar must respect the election won by Aung
San Suu Kyi in order to build a true democracy, her party said Monday, in
its first reaction to the junta's timetable for new elections.
The junta earlier this month announced plans to hold a constitutional
referendum in May, which the generals said would clear the way for new
polls
in 2010.
The military last held elections in 1990, but never recognized the
landslide
victory by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and instead
has
kept her under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
"The authorities' decision to ignore the 1990 election result does not
respect the will of the voters. It is a violation of democracy and human
rights, so a new democratic country cannot be built," the NLD said in a
statement.
"The authorities have a duty to explain to the voters the status of the
1990
election, and why they have taken this position," the party added.
The NLD also criticized the junta for announcing a referendum before
authorities have completed work on the constitution that voters will be
asked to approve.
A National Convention, whose delegates were handpicked by the regime,
wrapped up 14 years of talks last September to lay out guidelines for the
charter. The final version of the do***ent has yet to be released.
"The draft of the constitution should be released so that people can study
it and make a decision," the NLD said.
The party slammed the junta for announcing the referendum "one-sidedly and
without genuine dialogue," while accusing the regime of ignoring the
recommendation of the U.N. to open talks on national reconciliation.
"The authorities will be held responsible for the consequences of harming
national reconciliation, peace and tranquillity, and decreasing our
dignity
in the international community," the statement said.
The regime announced its timetable for elections amid mounting
international
pressure over its crackdown on peaceful demonstrations led by Buddhist
monks
in September, when the U.N. says at least 31 people were killed.
But the generals have ignored calls to free Aung San Suu Kyi and open a
political dialogue, instead sticking to their own "road map," which
critics
say will enshrine the military's rule.
http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200802180740DOWJONESDJONLINE000193_univ.xml
=====
|
