§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese Government about their commitment to free and fair elections; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe Burmese military Government have disregarded basic human and political rights since they seized power in September 1988. We have made clear our opposition to their oppressive policies.
Most recently, on 14 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 112W 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 17 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.