As the National League for Democracy (NLD) announced that elections laws are so unjust that it will not register as a party to be able to take part, Burma Campaign UK today called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to stop trying to persuade Burma’s generals to reform elections designed to maintain military rule. Instead the United Nations should renew efforts to force Burma’s generals to enter into dialogue with the NLD and genuine ethnic representatives.
“With Burma’s main political party not taking part in the elections, it is time to move on from the debate about reforming the regime’s fake elections, and get back to pressuring the generals to enter into genuine dialogue,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director at Burma Campaign UK. “The UN Secretary General, General Assembly and Security Council have all called for this dialogue, but have not done enough to pressure the generals into genuine dialogue.”
Fake elections due later this year are part of the dictatorship’s so-called seven stage roadmap to democracy. The roadmap was announced in 2003 in an attempt by the dictatorship to head off sanctions and other international pressure following at attempt to assassinate democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Around 100 of her supporters were killed in what became known as the Depayin Massacre.
The Burma Campaign UK has long argued that the entire process is a sham, and this was confirmed by the publication of the constitution, which is designed to maintain dictatorship with a civilian front. The Constitution comes into force after the fake elections. Rather than seek to realise countless UN resolutions and statements calling on Burma’s generals to enter into genuine dialogue, the UN and many governments have tried in vain to tinker with and reform the generals’ plans. They have completely failed to secure any concession.
“Burma’s generals probably can’t believe their luck that such a transparently fake process has duped the international community for so long,” said Anna Roberts.
For more information contact Anna Roberts on 020 7324 4710