§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Burmese Government about its commitment to free and fair elections.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Brabazon of Tara)The Burmese Military Government has disregarded basic human and political rights since it seized power in September 1988. We have made clear our opposition to its oppressive policies.
728WAMost recently, on 14th February, the latest in a long series of demarches by the Twelve to the Burmese authorities called for the elections planned for May to be open to all candidates. In spite of these and other international protests, hundreds of opposition politicians have been arrested since July 1989. They have included Aung San Suu Kyi, the most popular opposition leader, who, on 17th February, was finally debarred from standing in the elections.
It now seems unlikely that the elections can be regarded by the international community as anything other than a sham. We will nevertheless continue to do what we can to encourage the regime, both directly and through the continuing Western aid boycott, to hold genuinely democratic elections.