Philippines calls on Myanmar to rescind law disqualifying Suu Kyi

Mar 11, 2010, 10:32 GMT

Manila - The Philippines Thursday urged Myanmar to rescind a new election law that disqualifies democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in national polls planned this year.

Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo also reiterated the Philippines' call for Myanmar's ruling generals to free Suu Kyi ahead of the elections.

'Unless they release Suu Kyi and allow her party to participate in the elections, it's a complete farce and therefore contrary to their road map to democracy,' he said.

As the new regulation was simply imposed by the ruling junta, revoking it would not involve complicated procedures, he said, adding 'they can remove the law anytime.'

The new election law, announced by Myanmar on Wednesday, prohibits anyone convicted of a crime from being a member of a political party or a candidate in the elections.

The law makes Suu Kyi, who was convicted of violating the terms of her house arrest in August 2009, ineligible to run in the elections expected later this year.

The new decree would also prevent Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy opposition party from contesting the elections, even with another candidate, as long as she remains on its membership rolls, party spokesman Nyan Win explained.

The Philippines and Myanmar are both members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, which has often been criticized for failing to exert more pressure on Yangon to implement democratic reforms.