U.N. calls for fair Myanmar referendum

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The U.N. Security Council on Friday called on Myanmar's military government to ensure that "fundamental political freedoms" are respected in this month's referendum on a new constitution.

The statement by all 15 council members noted the military junta's commitment that the "process will be free and fair" for the May 10 referendum, which is to be followed by elections in 2010.

"The Security Council underlines the need for the government of Myanmar to establish the conditions and create an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible process, including the full participation of all political actors and respect for fundamental political freedoms," the statement said.

Myanmar's U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe called the council statement "highly objectionable" and an interference in its domestic affairs, and blamed "the tremendous pressure exerted by powerful members of the Security Council on other members."

"This is unprecedented since Myanmar is not a threat to either international or regional peace and security," Swe said in a letter to the Security Council president obtained by The Associated Press.

China, which has close ties with Myanmar, objected to the first two drafts of the council statement but agreed to the text after it dropped all references to detained pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement also dropped language saying Myanmar should guarantee free expression, association and assembly "in the political process leading to the referendum, as well as independent monitoring of the referendum" -- and it eliminated all references to Myanmar's transition to democracy.

China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters: "I believe ... what we agreed sends the positive message."

"It's not up to the Security Council to subscribe for what the conditions are for each referendum and the election," Wang asked.

"I believe it's a good statement," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said. "There is a demand by the Security Council that the authorities in Myanmar have to create credible processes and allow for fundamental freedom to be exercised as they move toward" the referendum and elections.

Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962. The current junta seized power in 1988 and refused to honor the results of a 1990 general election won by Suu Kyi's party. Suu Kyi is under house arrest and has been in detention without trial for more than 12 of the past 18 years.

The junta has been under strong international pressure to make democratic reforms, especially since it quashed peaceful pro-democracy protests last September. The U.N. estimates at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained in the crackdown. E-mail to a friend

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