U.N.'s Ban rebukes Myanmar generals over Suu Kyi

By Louis Charbonneau

YANGON (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon rebuked Myanmar's generals on Saturday for denying him a visit to see detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and said she should be allowed to take part in politics before 2010 elections.

The U.N. Secretary-General expressed "deep disappointment" at the end of a two-day visit to the military-ruled state.

In a rare speech in Yangon to a crowd of about 500 diplomats, state officials, non-governmental organizations and opposition politicians, Ban sharply criticized Myanmar for its human rights record and its failure to free political prisoners.

"Allowing a visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been an important symbol of the government's willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement that will be essential if the elections in 2010 are to be seen as credible," Ban said.

"I'm deeply disappointed that they rejected my request. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be allowed to participate in the political process without further delay."

There was no applause during Ban's speech but his rebuke of the generals in front of a local audience prompted murmurs throughout the crowd at Yangon's Drug Elimination Museum.

Criticism of the authorities is rare in Myanmar and dissent is harshly dealt with by the generals, with rights activists, politicians and even comedians among those given long jail terms.

Ban waited overnight in Myanmar's isolated new capital Naypyidaw only to have junta supremo Than Shwe shoot down his request, saying Suu Kyi was on trial and the country's rulers did not want to be seen to interfere with the judicial process.

Suu Kyi, who has spearheaded the campaign for democracy for two decades in the former Burma, is on trial for breaching terms of her house arrest by allowing an American intruder to stay at her home on May 4.

The trial was adjourned on Friday until July 10 because of a clerical error by the court, according to her lawyer.

Critics have dismissed the process as a show trial and an attempt by the generals to keep her out of multi-party elections to be held next year.

GRAVE CONCERN

Ban said Myanmar's human rights record was of "grave concern" and said its people would suffer if the regime continued to be isolated as a result of its failure to initiate meaningful, inclusive democratic reforms.

"The question of today is this: How much longer can Myanmar afford to wait for national reconciliation, democratic transition and full respect for human rights?" he told the crowd.

Ban is expected to receive criticism for what he had said would be a "very tough mission," since he left without any guarantees from the generals that Suu Kyi and the more than 2,000 political prisoners would be freed.