Suu Kyi and UN chief make call for prisoner release
Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia pose in this undated photo released by his family on October 3, 2010. Imprisoned Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 8, 2010, an announcement that Beijing had anticipated and bitterly criticised.
Photograph by: Handout, Reuters
UNITED NATIONS - Democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar on Thursday while a UN committee condemned human rights in Myanmar despite Chinese opposition.
China also vociferously defended the Myanmar junta in UN Security Council consultations held to discuss the release of Suu Kyi and the much criticized national election held on November 7.
Ban and Suu Kyi held their first talks by telephone, the UN said.
They "stressed the need for the Myanmar authorities to release all remaining political prisoners as a matter of priority so that all citizens of Myanmar are free to contribute to advancing the prospects of national reconciliation and democratic transition in Myanmar," said a UN statement.
The Nobel Peace Prize winning opposition leader has made the estimated 2,100 political prisoners still in Myanmar jails her campaign priority, according to diplomats.
Forty-six nations — European countries, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand — presented a resolution in the UN General Assembly's main human rights committee which expressed "gravest concern" at Myanmar's rights record and saying the November 7 election was not "free and fair".
The resolution, which highlighted political prisoners, the use of torture and inhuman treatment, child soldiers and attacks on civilians, was backed by 96 nations and opposed by 28 with 60 abstaining.
China strongly attacked the motion. "Finger pointing does not protect human rights," China's representative told the committee meeting."
He said the resolution "does not recognize the progress that has been made," added the diplomat praising the election from which Aung San Suu Kyi's party was banned and most seats went to pro-junta groups.
Russia also opposed the resolution. Myanmar's ambassador Than Swe called the resolution "seriously flawed".
Suu Kyi expressed support for a visit by the secretary general's special adviser on Myanmar "and her desire to engage with him for pushing ahead in addressing the challenges facing the people of Myanmar," the UN statement said.
UN adviser, Vijay Nambiar, had pressed for a visit to Myanmar before the election. But the junta had only agreed for him to go after the vote and Nambiar turned this down, diplomats said.
The Security Council also discussed whether Nambiar could meet the junta. It could not agree a general statement for the press, with China again praising the election and defending the junta against Western criticism, diplomats said.
Ban visited Myanmar last year but was not allowed to see Suu Kyi, who was released from almost two decades of detention and house arrest on Saturday.
Ban told Suu Kyi "he was encouraged by the spirit of reconciliation emanating from her statements and appeals for dialogue and compromise following her release."
The UN leader reiterated the United Nations commitment "to uphold the cause of human rights and support all efforts by the government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other stakeholders to build a united, peaceful, democratic and modern future for their country."
© Copyright (c) AFP
Friday 19 November 2010
Suu Kyi and UN chief make call for prisoner release
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