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U.N.'s Ban to urge Myanmar leader to free prisoners
Fri Jul 3, 2009 2:06am EDT
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By Louis Charbonneau
YANGON (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he has a "tough mission" when he meets Myanmar's top general Friday to urge the junta supremo to free all political prisoners and ensure next year's elections are credible.
Ban said on arrival in Yangon he would ask Senior General Than Shwe when they meet in the country's new capital, Naypyidaw, to allow him to see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose trial was adjourned earlier Friday.
"I'm going to urge (the generals) to accelerate their political process ... and release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," Ban told reporters.
He said he would convey international concern about Suu Kyi's trial and press the regime to ensure next year's planned multi-party elections are credible and transparent.
"The genuine will of the Myanmar people should be reflected," Ban said.
The stakes are high for Ban and the risk of failure great.
Halfway through a five-year term at the helm of the United Nations, Ban has faced a wave of criticism from detractors who say his low-key approach to the job does not work. He is eager to prove them wrong, U.N. diplomats say.
Ban made clear he was under no illusions about how difficult it would be to persuade the military junta in the former Burma to free prisoners and take concrete steps toward democracy ahead of next year's multi-party elections.
"We must try our best to bring changes, he told reporters in Singapore before departing for Myanmar.
"I'll do my best (but) I do not believe my visit should be a make-or-break event... This will be a very difficult mission."
MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
He said he would also press Than Shwe and Prime Minister Thein Sein to engage in "meaningful and credible dialogue" with Suu Kyi and the opposition.
Ban said he would meet with representatives of "registered political parties" in Naypyidaw, including Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.
However, Suu Kyi herself will not be at that meeting and it was not clear if Ban would be able to meet her at all.
She has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention, mostly under house arrest at her lakeside home in Yangon. It will be up to Than Shwe whether Ban sees her. Continued...
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