Ban: UN awaits response from Burma on democratic reform

Ban visited Burma July 3-4 and met with the country's leader, Army Senior General Than Shwe. But he was not allowed to see opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial for allegedly harbouring an American in her home and violating the terms of her house arrest.

 "Now that I have conveyed in the clearest terms what is expected of Myanmar's leaders, it is up to them to respond positively in their country's own interest," Ban said in briefing the 15-nation council about the trip, his second since last May when Burma was partly destroyed by Cyclone Nargis.

 Ban asked Burma's military government to release all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, resume government-opposition dialogue and create conditions for a free and fair general election in 2010. Suu Kyi is head of the National League for Democracy.

 The UN chief said he was "deeply disappointed" that Than Shwe did not allow him to meet with Suu Kyi, which amounted to a "major lost opportunity" for Burma to prove its sincerity to embrace democracy.

 "The world is now watching closely whether they will choose to act in the best interest of their country or ignore our concerns and expectations and the needs of their people," he said.

 Ban warned that if Suu Kyi is not allowed to take part in the election in 2010, "that election may not be regarded as legitimate and credible."

Burma adopted a revised constitution last May, which bars Suu Kyi from running in the election because she married a foreigner, a Briton who has passed away.

 While Ban deplored the lack of concrete results during his visit, Burma's new ambassador, U Than Swe, told the council that the visit was a success because Ban met with Than Shwe for a second time, adding that the general rarely met with the same dignitary twice.

 "With regard to the success of the visit, the Myanmar government intends to implement all appropriate recommendations that the secretary general had proposed," U Than Swe said.

 He said political prisoners will be granted amnesty on humanitarian grounds so they can take part in the 2010 election, but did not mention Suu Kyi.

 U Than Swe said if his government needs technical assistance to organise the election, it will let the UN know.

 "Myanmar today is steadfastly proceeding on its chosen path to democracy," he said.

 Council members agreed that Ban was right in visiting Burma and calling for democracy, human rights and economic development. Some deplored the continued arrest of Suu Kyi.

 "The secretary general's visit was an opportunity for the government of Burma (Myanmar) to transform its relationship with the international community, which stands ready to respond positively to real progress," British Deputy Ambassador Philip Parham said.

 "The regime's failure to take this opportunity has only served to isolate it further," he said.

 "We can only hope that we may yet see progress in the coming days - it is not too late."