New Delhi (Mizzima) – Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday reiterated his and the international community’s expectation from Burma’s ruling junta on the release of political prisoners, particularly opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The UN Chief told reporters in New York, after his meeting with the Group of Friends on Burma, that the international community expects the Burmese government to “respond positively and in a timely fashion to our concerns, expectations and encouragements on issues that are of fundamental importance for the future of Myanmar [Burma].”
Ban said on Wednesday he briefed the 14-members of the Group of Friends about the two messages he had delivered to the Burmese leadership during his visit to the country last month and yet again to the permanent representative of Burma to the UN, last week.
“First, my clear expectation and that of the international community that the Government of Myanmar [Burma] will give careful consideration to the implications of any verdict in the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and use this opportunity to exercise its responsibility to ensure her immediate release,” Ban said.
Secondly, Ban said, he reiterated the international community's high expectations on the Government of Burma to act in its own interest by taking timely and positive steps in the follow-up to the specific proposals that he had made to the senior leadership, starting with the release all political prisoners, so as to allow them to participate in a credible and inclusive political process.
Ban said the international community, particularly the Group of Friends, endorsed his approach on Burma to engage constructively to help the Government and people of Burma in addressing the many challenges and opportunities facing the country.
The meeting of the Group of Friends is the second since the world leader visited Burma in July, during which he was refused a meeting with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently facing trial.
Answering a question on whether he had received any indication as to when and how many political prisoners will be released, Ban said, he did not have any clear indication, except what the Permanent Representative of Burma had reported to the Security Council on July 13, that his government is taking necessary measures to grant amnesty to political prisoners on the request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
“This is what the Myanmar [Burma] Government officially notified the Security Council about. I hope they will take necessary measures to implement their commitment,” Ban added.
The Group of Friends on Burma formed in 2007 includes Australia, China, the European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
The UN Chief said he will also convene another meeting with the Group of Friends in September on the sidelines of the opening of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters.
