APSN | Ban calls for early action on release of political prisoners

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Ban calls for early action on release of political prisoners

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Lalit K Jha, Washington – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed a meeting between Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a senior government official on Monday, and renewed calls for the new Burmese government to release the country's nearly 2,000 political prisoners.

"[Ban] also calls upon the government of Myanmar [Burma] to consider early action on the release of political prisoners in that country," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters at his daily briefing at the UN headquarters in New York.

In response to a question on the meeting, Nesirky said Ban noted that "the parties have expressed satisfaction at their positive talks and their intention to cooperate further on matters beneficial to the people of Myanmar."

Nesirky noted that Ban's special adviser on Burma, Vijay Nambiar, recently traveled to the country and met Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi, the official who met with Suu Kyi on Monday, as well as other government officials and representatives from political parties.

"In line with the international community's expectations and Myanmar's national interest, the secretary-general hopes such efforts will continue with a view to building mutual understanding through genuine dialogue," the UN spokesman said.

Meanwhile in Washington, the Obama administration said it wants the new Burmese government to take more steps toward democratic reform.

"We want to see them take more democratic steps, more reformed steps," said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland. "We call on them to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in an environment where she feels safe and secure, where she can have an influence on the future of her country."

However, she refrained from making any comment on Monday's meetings. "I can't speak to this specific meeting, but those are the steps that we want to see, and we want to make sure also that the Burmese government is taking great care with her security," said Nuland.