According to Amnesty International, the junta's electoral laws blatantly violate freedom of expression, and the election commission has issued a vague ban on canvassing which harms "security".
Amnesty International also pointed out, more than 2,200 political prisoners continue languishing behind bars in Myanmar (Burma). It is double the number since the start of the mass peaceful anti-government monks protests of August-September 2007 - a huge reflection of the ruthless human rights violation there.
"Under Electoral Laws enacted in March, no political prisoner can take part in the elections, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The same laws also prohibit them from membership in any political party. ASEAN should unequivocally call for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience at the Ministerial Meeting (AMM), something they conspicuously failed to do at the organization's summit in Ha Noi in April", AI says in its statement.
Unavoidably, this existing AMM is responsible to look into the situation of elections in the military ruled member country. ASEAN must especially urge Myanmar to respect freedom of expression, freedom peaceful assembly, and freedom association to be safeguarded for all citizens in line with international standard during the upcoming elections.
It is not adequate for ASEAN to stand still on a wait-and-see position. ASEAN member countries must also be geared up to protest forcefully if individuals are under threat and detained for their peaceful political views and activities in the run-up to the elections.
It is essential that ASEAN has to get hold of this opportunity to strive towards the awareness of long unsettled human rights issues in Myanmar. Failure to sort out those human rights challenges, including electoral frauds, in Myanmar/Burma will damage ASEAN's international fidelity and image.
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Zin Linn is an exilefreelance journalist from Burma and vice-president of Burma Media Association which is affiliated with the Paris-based Reporters San Frontiers.
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