Prime Minister calls Burmese electoral changes targeting Aung San Suu Kyi ‘vindictive and callous’ (15/03/2010)
The Electoral Commission Law and Political Parties Registration Law announced by the Burmese regime last week contain provisions preventing those currently serving a prison sentence from being a member of a political party. The move appears to be directed towards detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, barring them from full engagement in the political process.
Commenting on the election laws published by the Burmese regime, the Prime Minister said:
"Burma has ignored the demands of the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General, the US, EU and its own neighbours by imposing restrictive and unfair terms on elections. The targeting of Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD is particularly vindictive and callous. I have today written to the UN Secretary General to call for an urgent meeting in New York to discuss these developments. We will also seek international support to impose an arms embargo against Burma. Burma's people are demanding political and economic freedom, and the international community must stand with them".
On 11 March 2010, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis voiced his concern at the move, stating:
“We are concerned at the implications of the laws we've seen so far, and regret that they are not based on genuine and inclusive dialogue between the regime, opposition and ethnic groups.
“Our position remains that elections in Burma will not be credible unless such dialogue takes place, and all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are released and allowed to participate fully in the political process.”
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