DANANG: Myanmar’s first general elections in two decades will be free, fair and credible, the country’s foreign minister told his Southeast Asian neighbours at a regional conference in Vietnam today.

Myanmar’s ruling junta has promised to hold the elections this year but has yet to set a date. Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will not be allowed to participate, and critics have argued the balloting will only extend the military’s authoritarian leadership. At a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win reiterated his government’s stance that elections will be held this year and are part of its roadmap to democracy, said Surin Pitsuwan, the group’s secretary-general.

“The ASEAN ministers have expressed their high hope that the issue of Myanmar will be resolved this year and then we

can move forward to a new era of ASEAN’s relations and cooperation with

international community,” Surin said.

Indonesia has been outspoken about the need for Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy, or NLD, to be allowed to participate in the elections. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years, mostly under house arrest.

“We want to be sure that Aung San Suu Kyi has the possibility and opportunity to interact with her party colleagues,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. “This is for the NLD to decide how they will approach the elections, whether they will participate or not participate.” Myanmar’s dismal human rights record and the ruling generals’ tightfisted hold on power have been a thorny issue among the members of ASEAN. Western countries, including the US, have urged ASEAN leaders to pressure Myanmar to move forward with democratic elections.

Natalegawa said the situation with Myanmar had improved over last year because now the generals are engaging with the US and the European Union.