For Democracy & Human Rights

Ireland puts Myanmar ambassador plan on hold

Oct 5 (AFP) - Ireland has put on hold a plan to exchange ambassadors with Myanmar as a result of lack of political progress in the southeast Asian country, according to Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.

Ireland established diplomatic relations with Myanmar's military junta in February and its ambassador to Malaysia, Daniel Mulhall, was to have been accredited there on a non-resident basis.

At the time Ireland held the six-month revolving presidency of the European Union and then-foreign minister Brian Cowen argued that the appointment of an ambassador would increase Ireland's "influence and credibility" in pushing for human rights and democratic reform.

Ahern, in an official comment published on the Internet at the weekend, said Ireland remained strongly critical of the continued house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the absence of political progress, persistent human rights abuse and the lack of fundamental freedoms in the country.

"It is very much to be regretted that the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other positive developments which were widely expected to take place in Burma earlier this year were not forthcoming," Ahern said in a written answer to a parliamentary question.

"The decision to establish diplomatic relations was taken in the context of increased engagement leading to anticipated progress. "Given the lack of such progress, the exchange of ambassadors between Ireland and Burma has been put on hold."

In March, during Ireland's EU presidency, a meeting of the European Burma Network in Dublin adopted six objectives on Myanmar including a return to democracy.

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