Philippines dubs Myanmar election a "farce"

By Ambika Ahuja
HANOI (Reuters) - Myanmar's election is a democratic farce, the Philippines said in a document outlining President Benigno Aquino's position at an Asian summit this week where differences over the military-ruled nation could bring discord.

The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) faces divisions over reclusive and recalcitrant Myanmar, days before its first election in two decades, at the gathering in Vietnam of leaders aiming to forge an economic and political union in the next five years.

Myanmar's grim record on human rights damages ASEAN's reputation and credibility and is an obstacle to cooperation with some of its international partners.

It is also a source of friction within ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

"It is increasingly evident that the forthcoming elections ... will continue to be a farce to democratic values of transparency, fairness, provision for 'level playing field', credibility and all-inclusiveness," the Philippines government said in the document prepared for Aquino's meetings this week and seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The Myanmar military, which has ruled since 1962, says the election will be fair and will return the country to civilian rule but critics say it is a sham aimed at ensuring the generals remains firmly in control.
Some ASEAN members, such as the Philippines and Indonesia, have been pressing for reform. Others, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, have called for respect of ASEAN's long-held principle of non-interference.

Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party swept the country's last polls in 1990 but was never allowed to govern, has been kept in detention and excluded from politics for most of the past 21 years.

The exclusion of Suu Kyi from the election and the detention of more than 2,000 political prisoners "is a clear signal that the Myanmar government does not intend to provide space and opportunity for the election process that the U.N. and ASEAN demand," the Philippine government said in the paper.

"The Philippines strongly urges for real and meaningful change for the Myanmar people," it said.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Myanmar's election lacked credibility but neighbours hoped it was not too late to improve prospects for the vote.

"There is obviously a credibility deficit at this time in terms of where the election appears to be heading, in terms of its preparation," Natalegawa said before a meeting with his counterparts from the region, including Myanmar.
"We are not pessimistic, even at this late stage, that we can all work together to ensure that an election in Myanmar can be part of a solution rather than part of more difficulties ahead."

ASEAN offered Myanmar help with the vote, with some members suggesting observers. Myanmar declined the offer.

ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday Myanmar could make it difficult for ASEAN to establish the confidence and credibility "for us to move on as a region."

(Additional reporting by Yoko Kubota in Tokyo; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by John Ruwitch and Miral Fahmy)

Source:http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE69Q1GK20101027

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