Not too late for inclusive Myanmar poll: U.N. chief

(Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday his organization was committed to long-term engagement with military-ruled Myanmar and it was not too late to make next month's election more credible.

Ban said the United Nations would work with the new government to be formed after the much-criticized November 7 ballot, and the junta could improve its international image by releasing all political prisoners immediately.

"It's not too late, even now. By releasing political detainees, (the government) can make this election more inclusive and participatory," Ban told a news conference in Bangkok.



"We will really be expecting this election will be a free one, fair one and inclusive one."

The election will be the first since 1990 polls won by detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party but ignored by the junta. The NLD has boycotted the upcoming polls it says are "unfair and unjust."

Foreign observers and journalists will be barred from covering the vote, which critics say is a sham to ensure the military and its proxies remain in power, either via the ballot box or a process of appointments.
According to Myanmar's 2008 constitution, parliament will choose a president, who will appoint ministers of his own choice, and they need not be elected civilians. Lawmakers can only challenge the appointees if they are deemed unqualified.

Ban said Myanmar's democratic credentials would be tested long after the election and urged the current rulers to ensure the new government would be representative of the people.

"It will be more important after the election, about how inclusive the government will be as a result of the election and if it reflects the wishes and will of the people," he said.

"That will be a test of the Myanmar government, as to how they can meet the expectation of international community."
(Editing by Alan Raybould)

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69P1NI20101026

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