In a statement, Arroyo said it was 'a sad day for democracy' and the South-east Asian region that Myanmar rejected the proposal made by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari in talks with election officials on Friday.
'A central pillar of democracy is a free and fair election,' she said. 'Outside observers are not a threat to any nation's sovereignty. Rather, the participation of outside election observers is a sign of strength.
'It is not too late for the government of Myanmar to accept the proposal by the UN,' she added. 'It is a small but modest step towards democratization that is long over due in Myanmar.'
Myanmar, formerly called Burma, will hold a referendum on an unspecified date in May to endorse a controversial draft constitution compiled over the past 14 years by a military-appointed forum.
The proposed constitution enshrines the military's role as a powerful political force in any future elected government.
The date of the referendum will be announced 21 days prior to the event. It will be followed by a general election in 2010 as part of the ruling junta's 'seven step road map' to democracy.
Myanmar and the Philippines are both members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, which has been criticized in the past for failing to put more pressure on the military-ruled country to hasten democratic reforms.
Source: Monsters & Critics
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