Obama urges credible Myanmar vote ***************************** (31,10,2014) * US President Barack Obama has called for an inclusive and credible process when Myanmar holds general elections next year. The comments were made in telephone talks with Myanmars President Thein Sein, the White House said. They came as military leaders, politicians and ethnic groups met on Friday for rare talks. The opposition boycotted the last general election in Myanmar in 2010, because of rules it said were unfair. That poll, the first in the nation in 20 years, moved Myanmar away from decades of outright military rule. It now has a civilian government dominated by a military-backed party. Thein Sein, the elected president, initiated a series of reforms after the election that led to the Aung San Suu Kyi-led pro-democracy opposition rejoining the political process. Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was then elected to parliament in a by-election in 2012. Mr Obama also spoke with Ms Suu Kyi on the telephone regarding how Washington could support efforts to promote tolerance, respect for diversity, and a more inclusive political environment, the White House said. Mr Obama is expected to make his second presidential visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, in November. * Thein Sein has called a rare meeting on Friday between the representatives of the government, parliament, opposition, including Ms Suu Kyi, and ethnic groups. The gathering will reportedly focus on the peace process, national reconciliation and the countrys political reform. Ms Suu Kyi, who is banned from running for president in next years election, has on previous occasions called for a meeting with Thein Sein, the parliament speakers and the military chief to discuss reforms. The government has said the upcoming election will be held in October or November 2015. The White House said Mr Obama also asked Thein Sein to take additional steps towards resolving the conflict in Rakhine state. In 2012 violence broke out between Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, killing about 200 people. Since then tens of thousands of people have been displaced, mostly from the minority Rohingya community. * President Obamais expected to make his second presidential visit to Myanmar in November : BRAVO Hla report .
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 09:56:40 +0000
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