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Myanmar must respect Suu Kyi's election win: party |
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Monday, 18 February 2008 |
Military-ruled Myanmar must respect the election won by Aung San Suu Kyi in order to build a true democracy, her party said yesterday, 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 recognised the landslide victory by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), 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 criticised 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 document 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 United Nations 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 United Nations 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. |
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