Statement by the Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Cyril Svoboda on the situation in Myanmar/Burma

Friday, May 26, 2006

16 years passed since the democratic elections in Myanmar/Burma, never honoured by the ruling junta, took place. Despite appeals and protests of the international community, the junta never transferred power to the victorious National League for Democracy and to the elected parliamentarians, and it continues to oppress democratic forces and ethnic minorities in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs requests the authorities of Myanmar/Burma to immediately release from the house arrest the leader of the National League for Democracy and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent, without trial and without any charges, 10 out of 16 last years in detention. Also 1 100 regime opponents, imprisoned under inhuman conditions for their attempts to exercise their rights, must be released. Aung San Suu Kyi and other democracy supporters should be allowed to engage in political activities.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is deeply concerned by the last wave of brutal attacks, murders and expelling of ethnic Karens in the area surrounding the new capital of Pyinmana.