UN Chief Arrives in Burma

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file)

By VOA News
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Burma to press the ruling military government to release its political prisoners.
Mr. Ban arrived in the main city of Rangoon Friday, and was scheduled to fly to the remote administrative capital of Naypyitaw. His arrival occurred on the same day the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was set to resume. But the court hearing the case issued another postponement, this time until July 10.


Her lawyer, Nyan Win, says the judge postponed Friday's hearing because the Supreme Court did not send the case files to the lower court.

Aung San Suu Kyi is charged with violating the terms of her house arrest and is facing a five-year prison term.

The international community has condemned the trial as a sham intended to keep her in prison through next year's election.

Ban Ki-moon is expected to meet with the country's top military leaders, including Senior General Than Shwe, during his mission. It is not clear if he will meet with Aung San Suu Kyi.

The U.N. chief said he would push for the release of all political prisoners in Burma, an estimated 2,000, and urge the country's leaders to include all parties in the political process ahead of the 2010 elections.

Amnesty International's representative in Bangkok Benjamin Zawacki says opposition members are sentenced to extraordinarily long prison terms and sent to the furthest borders of the country to be silenced.

Human Rights Watch has said that U.N. envoys have had very little influence over Burmese leaders so far. The New York-based group warned Thursday that Burma's military leaders could use the U.N. chief's visit to legitimize next year's elections.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters