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By Angelo S. Samonte, Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo urged Myanmar’s ruling
military junta to allow foreign observers to enter the country and
monitor the upcoming election there in May.
“It is a sad day for democracy and our region
that Myanmar has rejected the proposal put forward by the United
Nations for outside observers to the May election,” the President
said Sunday in a statement. (See related story page C4.)
“The very integrity of the UN has been
rejected by a nation that wishes to be taken seriously by its
neighbors and the world,” she added.
Mrs. Arroyo said the central pillar of democracy
is a free and fair election, adding that outside observers are not a
threat to any nation’s sovereignty.
“Rather, the participation of outside election
observers is a sign of strength,” she added. “These observers
help show the world the credibility of the election process itself.
We have long had observers in the Philippines and they have helped
solidify and advance our democracy.”
But it is not too late for the ruling junta to
accept the UN’s proposal, she said. “I call on the government in
Myanmar to do the right thing and allow outside observers. It is a
small but modest step toward democratization that is long overdue in
Myanmar.”
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