Myanmar polls not credible without Suu Kyi's release: Ban
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 28 (RTTNews): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that Myanmar's forthcoming election, the first in two decades, will not be credible unless the military rulers release Opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
"This is essential for the elections to be seen as credible and to contribute to Myanmar's stability and development," Ban said following a high-level meeting of the "Group of Friends on Myanmar" held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Monday.
He said the coming months leading to the November 7 vote would be crucial, and called on the military junta to ensure the polls were as "inclusive, participatory and transparent as possible."
"This is essential for the elections to be seen as credible and to contribute to Myanmar's stability and development," Ban said following a high-level meeting of the "Group of Friends on Myanmar" held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Monday.
He said the coming months leading to the November 7 vote would be crucial, and called on the military junta to ensure the polls were as "inclusive, participatory and transparent as possible."