A senior US envoy said Sunday he was "troubled" by Burma's election plans and will urge the junta to "broaden its overall approach" during an official two-day visit to the country.
Assistant US Secretary of State Kurt Campbell arrived at Rangoon International Airport Sunday afternoon, and flew on to Naypyitaw, the military's new capital, to meet with government officials to assess plans for an election this year.
He was also scheduled to meet Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and various political parties that will contest this year's polls in Rangoon on Monday.
The junta has promised an election this year, but a constitution approved by referendum in 2008 and election laws passed in March indicate the polls are designed to keep the military in firm command over any "elected" government.
"We're troubled by much of what we've seen and we have real concerns about the election laws and the environment that been created, and we will be looking to clarify some questions and to urge the government to broaden its overall approach," Campbell told a press conference in Bangkok.
Suu Kyi, former leader of the now defunct National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party, is serving an 18-month house arrest sentence which has barred her from contesting the polls this year.
The NLD decided not to contest the polls, because it would have been forced to expel Suu Kyi in order to register. A new electoral adopted in March stipulates that people serving jail terms may not be members of political parties. The NLD officially dissolved May 6.
A faction of former NLD executives have announced plans to set up a new party, the National Democratic Force, to contest the polls. It was not clear whether Campbell would meet the new group.
On Sunday, the US envoy was scheduled to meet with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win, Information Minister Kyaw Hsan and other high-ranking officials in Naypyitaw, but was unlikely to meet with junta chief Senior General Than Shwe, government sources said.
Campbell last visited Burma in November, marking a shift in US policy by US President Barrack Obama. Previous US administrations did not have high-level contacts with Burma.
The assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs acknowledged the difficulty of promoting free elections and genuine democracy in Burma, under military rule since 1962.
"We have no illusions about how difficult that process is and will continue to be," Campbell said. "Our primary goal is to establish consequential discussions with the government on a range of issues, and to know their plans and objectives over the next few years."