Myanmar rejects UN observers

Myanmar's government has rejected a UNs offer of observers for May's constitutional referendum and elections in 2010, redoubling concerns about the freedom and fairness of both polls.

"Holding the referendum for the constitution is within the state sovereignty," newspapers yesterday quoted referendum commissioner Thaung Nyunt as telling visiting UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

"Arrangements have been made for the eligible voters to cast their votes freely," he said, squashing any hopes of the international community that independent observers would be allowed in to monitor the plebiscite.

He also spurned Gambari's offer of UN "technical assistance," saying the military had enough experience with running elections.

The last time it did so, in 1990, it ignored the result when opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won more than 80 percent of the vote.

The latest rejection was not unexpected, but diplomats said it signaled the end of whatever small desire the generals had to compromise amid worldwide outrage at September's bloody crackdown on the biggest pro-democracy protests in 20 years.

"It shows the regime has lost its appetite for cooperating with the UN," said an Asian diplomat, who did not want to be named.

The junta announced its plans for a referendum and elections last month as part of a seven-step "roadmap to democracy" that most Western countries have dismissed as a blueprint for the generals keeping their grip on power.

Gambari, who is making his third trip to the Southeast Asian nation since the September protests, also held his second meeting with Myanmar Information Minister Kyaw Hsan yesterday.

Gambari's had already run into trouble on Friday when Kyaw Hsan accused him of bias in favor of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Gambari on Thursday aiming to push the junta to include Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in May's referendum on the new constitution and the 2010 elections.

The constitution would bar Aung San Suu Kyi from elections because of her marriage to a foreigner, while a new law limits the NLD's ability to campaign by criminalizing public speeches and leaflets about the referendum.

The Nigerian diplomat and UN troubleshooter was granted a rare, 90-minute meeting on Saturday with Aung San Suu Kyi, but details of their discussions have not been revealed. Gambari is not expected to visit the new capital, Naypyidaw, to see junta supremo Than Shwe.

The New Light of Myanmar carried an editorial labeling anyone who opposed the constitution as "internal axe-handles" and "national traitors."

It briefly mentioned Gambari's meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, but gave no details.

The Nobel peace prize winner has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest, and is allowed little contact with the outside world.

Meanwhile, adding her weight to Gambari's efforts, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo urged Myanmar to permit observers as a "small but modest step" toward democracy.

"It is a sad day for democracy and our region that Myanmar has rejected the proposal put forward by the UN for outside observers to the May election," she said in a statement.

"A central pillar of democracy is a free and fair election," she said. "Outside observers are not a threat to any nation's sovereignty. Rather, the participation of outside election observers is a sign of strength."