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Burma Stole Election, Says Obama

   VOA News 08 November 2010
   President  Barack  Obama  answers  a  question  during  a  joint  news
   conference  with  India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, not pictured,
   at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, 8 Nov. 2010.

Photo: Ap

   President  Barack  Obama  answers  a  question  during  a  joint  news
   conference  with  India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, not pictured,
   at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, 8 Nov. 2010.

   U.S.  President Barack Obama says it is "unacceptable" for the Burmese
   government  to  "steal  an  election"  and hold the aspirations of its
   people "hostage to the greed and paranoia of a bankrupt regime."
   In  a  speech  to the Indian parliament in New Delhi Monday, Mr. Obama
   said  it is the responsibility of countries like the United States and
   India to condemn Burma's "gross violation of human rights."
   The  U.S.  leader  criticized India for not speaking out against Burma
   when  it comes to human rights, saying New Delhi has  "often avoided"
   these  issues.  President Obama said speaking up for those who cannot
   do  so  is  not violating the rights of sovereign nations, but staying
   true to democratic principals.
   Western  and  Asian nations have criticized Burma's election on Sunday
   as  neither  free  nor  fair.   The  vote appears certain to give two
   pro-government parties a strong majority in parliament.
   Burmese  opposition  parties  say  authorities  pressured  voters into
   casting ballots for the military government-backed parties.
   Opposition  leader Aung San Suu Kyi was locked up during the election,
   and  most  foreign journalists and international observers were barred
   from monitoring the vote.
   White House officials said the election in Burma failed to meet any of
   the  internationally  accepted  standards  for  legitimate elections.Â
   Officials cited the military government's continued detention of 2,100
   political  prisoners  as  one  of the "starkest flaws" of the election
   process.
   During  his  speech  in  New  Delhi Monday, President Obama said it is
   "unacceptable   to   gun  down  peaceful  protesters  and  incarcerate
   political prisoners" decade after decade.

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