Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The United Nations General Secretary on Wednesday criticized Burma's ruling generals for failing to keep its promise on democratic reforms, saying it has added to problems facing the world in 2008, which he calls the "the year of Multiple Crises".

During a year end press conference, Ban Ki-moon, told reporters in New York that Burma's military rulers have shown unwillingness "to deliver on its promises for democratic dialogue and a release of political prisoners."

Ban said, with several countries including Burma still facing severe political and human rights problems, 2009 'promises to be no less difficult than 2008.'

On Human rights, the world body chief said even as the world marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Our record on human rights is on trial in many places, in many ways."

The UN has called repeatedly for the release of political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained for 13 of the past 19 years, and to implement an all inclusive dialogue to kick start a process of national reconciliation.

But Burma's ruling military regime, despite international condemnation, has continued to sentence political activists to long prison terms, and transferred them to remote jails across the country, which makes it difficult for family members to visit jailed activists adding to their agony.

On Wednesday, the New York-based Human Rights Watch said testimony from a lawyer, who recently fled Burma, shows how the junta uses the country's legal mechanism to lock up and imprison peaceful activists, and even intimidates and jails lawyers, defending activists.

Saw Kyaw Kyaw Min, a defence counsel for 11 detained political activists, fled Burma to neighbouring Thailand after authorities tried to arrest him under a court ruling that sentenced him for charges of contempt of court.

While he was able to escape his colleagues including Aung Thein and Khin Maung Shein, both Supreme Court advocates, were sentenced to four months in prison for turning their back on the court.

According to HRW Burma's military junta has sentenced more than 200 dissidents to prison terms ranging from less than a year to 68 years, in a crackdown that started in October 2008.

The HRW said, Burma's courts have sentenced over 200 political and labour activists, internet bloggers, journalists, and Buddhist monks and nuns to jail terms ranging from four months to 68 years.