UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday military-ruled Myanmar should release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's jailed democracy leader. He also called on North Korea to drop its nuclear ambitions after Pyongyang's second atomic test in May shocked the world, prompting the Security Council to step up sanctions in a new resolution.
"They (Yangon) should release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi," said Ban, who was visiting Japan en route to Myanmar, where the Nobel Peace laureate has been detained for 13 of the past 19 years. The Myanmar regime leaders "should immediately resume dialogue between the government and opposition leaders," he said after talks in Tokyo with Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.
The diplomatically risky visit starts Friday, the same day a Myanmar court is due to resume the trial of the 64-year-old on charges that she violated her house arrest after an American man swam to her lakeside home. She faces up to five years in jail if convicted.
While acknowledging worries over the timing of his visit, Ban said finding an appropriate time to visit Myanmar had been "a challenge" and said he wished to focus on relaying his message, which will includes calls on the junta to hold a democratic election. "They should also create an atmosphere, a political as well as legal framework, conducive to the credible election which needs to... (be held) next year, in a most objective, transparent and democratic manner," he said. Ban's trip to Asia also coincided with reports that a North Korean ship carrying weapons and related parts was headed to Myanmar.