“The government must create conditions that give all stakeholders the opportunity to participate freely in elections. This includes the release of all political prisoners — including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi — and respect for fundamental freedoms.”
—UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

“Asean’s reputation as a meaningful regional forum will suffer if it does not call for Myanmar [Burma] to respect freedom of expression, assembly and association in the lead-up to the election.”
—Donna Guest, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Programme Director

“The elections [in Burma] should be free and democratic with the participation of all parties.”
—Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

Without full participation, including the almost 2,200 prisoners of conscience, and an environment that allows people and parties to engage in the range of electoral activities, the elections will not be credible.
—Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN Human Rights Envoy to Burma February 19, 2010