US disappointed by Junta’s ignoring the call of ‘International Community’ and ‘UNSC’

In a press briefings issued on 24^th March 2009 (PRN: 2009/254), US Department of State – Acting Department Spokesperson – Mr. Robert Wood has ‘once again  urged the Burmese authorities to release all political prisoners and initiate a genuine dialogue that can help move the country forward’. Mr. Wood also stated in his press briefings that, “We are disappointed that the regime continues to ignore the calls of the international community, including the UN Security Council (UNSC), to release the more than 2,100 political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.”

United States official statement came after the news of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has opined recently that the detention of Burma’s democracy activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is illegal under the domestic laws of her own country and international law. It is noteworthy that, it was the first time the 'U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention' found that the confinement of Daw Suu Kyi, who has spent more than 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest, illegal under Burmese law. Although there had been many regular appeals by the UN Secretary General's office and ASEAN resolutions to free political prisoners in Burma including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the genuine national reconciliation process.

 

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued opinions affirming that the continued detentions of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Aung Myin, Ko Jimmy, Paw Oo Tun, and Mtay Win Aung are arbitrary and unjustified and urged the Burmese government to release these individuals immediately.

  

Last year before the upcoming referendum on Burma’s proposed constitution, on 2^nd of May 2008 Press Release of  UN, the UN Security Council stressed unsuccessfully – “the need for the upcoming referendum and elections in Burma to include the full participation of all political actors and respect for fundamental political freedoms”. (1) However, the referendum had been held Daw Suu Kyi and other major political leaders behind the bars in the midst of natural calamity of ‘Nargis’ as well as the call given by the UNSC “to establish the conditions and create an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible process” for the referendum.  

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