UN Secretary-General calls on Myanmar

 Authorities to remain committed to national

reconciliation, democratization

The following statement was issued on 19 October by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is concerned about the events that have unfolded in Yangon overnight, including the report that Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt has been dismissed and put under house arrest.

Noting the change in the top leadership of the Government, the Secretary-General calls on the Myanmar authorities to remain committed to the process of national reconciliation and democratization.  To that end, he urges the Myanmar authorities to resume as soon as possible substantive dialogue with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political parties, as well as furthering its dialogue with ethnic nationality ceasefire and non-ceasefire groups.

The Secretary-General is also concerned about the welfare of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her deputy, U Tin Oo, who have been kept under house arrest since May 2003.  He reiterates his call on the Myanmar authorities to release them without further delay.

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