ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

By LALIT K JHA / NEW YORK:US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has accused the Burmese regime of backtracking on the “modest steps” it had taken in its dealings with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The regime has backtracked on even the modest steps it had taken—naming a liaison to meet regularly with Aung San Suu Kyi and allowing her to meet with her colleagues in Burma's National League for Democracy," Rice said in a statement on Wednesday, the eve of the Suu Kyi’s 63rd birthday.

Protesters carry a huge portrait of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a march through a Tokyo street Thursday, marking her 63rd birthday. (Photo: AP)

Rice is expected to make reference to Suu Kyi's continued house arrest in a speech before a special session of the UN Security Council on Thursday.

In her statement on Wednesday, Rice said there had been no meetings since January between Suu Kyi and the junta-appointed liaison officer or with her party colleagues, as was promised by the regime. "Aung San Suu Kyi has even been denied regular access to medical care and legal counsel," Rice said, demanding her immediate release.

"Rather than risking further unrest in Burma by its unjustified detention of political prisoners and its holding of a rigged referendum in May on a sham constitution, the regime should release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and begin a genuine dialogue with her and other democratic and ethnic minority leaders on a transition to democracy," Rice declared.

"Tomorrow, on June 19, Aung San Suu Kyi will spend yet another birthday in custody, denied her liberty and fundamental political and civil rights by Burma's military rulers. This deplorable situation must end," Rice said.

Nearly 2,000 political prisoners are currently in custody in Burma, and Rice demanded their release—"Burma's rulers should release all political prisoners and begin to move in earnest to transform Burma into a democratic society."

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a special informal briefing to the General Assembly, reiterated his commitment to work towards democracy in Burma.

Ban also briefed the General Assembly, in a close door session, about his visit last month to Burma, which he said had the aim of overseeing humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

The UN chief told the General Assembly that “the relief effort there is continuing to improve and to scale up," his spokeswoman, Michele Montas, told reporters.

Ban Ki-moon stressed that the humanitarian tragedy in Burma should not be politicized.

He also confirmed that his special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, would continue his Burma mission.