UN Rights Commissioner joins Int’l condemnation on Burma

by Salai Pi Pi
Thursday, 13 August 2009 21:28

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The United Nation’s Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay on Wednesday lent her voice to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s call for the immediate release of political prisoners in Burma including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Navi Pillay, in a statement on Wednesday condemned the Burmese military rulers for extending the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi to another 18 months and joined the UN Chief in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

“I deplore the ongoing persecution of a democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, for almost a quarter of a century,” Navi Pillay said.

“I am seriously disturbed by her arbitrary detention and the basis of charges against her, an event that was clearly beyond her control, with the court failing to properly review the legitimacy of her house arrest in the first instance,” she added.

Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday also expressed his disappointment over the verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi and strongly condemned the Burmese regime for the unjust trial.

“The Secretary-General urged the Burmese government to immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to engage with her without delay as an essential partner in the process of national dialogue and reconciliation,” Michele Montas, the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General said.

Ban also reminded the junta that without releasing Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and allowing them to participate in free and fair elections, the credibility of the political process will remain in doubt.