By DPA
Bangkok : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday expressed impatience with Myanmar’s junta for its slow progress in democratisation since its latest crackdown on its own people last September.
“The international community is impatient. In fact, our patience is running out,” Ban said after meeting with Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont.
“The people of Myanmar have suffered from isolation for such a long time, it is high time for the Myanmar authorities to allow the people to be able to enjoy genuine democracy, freedom and human rights,” Ban said.
He used his stopover in Bangkok, home to the UN’s Asian headquarters, to call on the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their “special cooperation” in pressuring Myanmar to democratise.
Myanmar became a member of ASEAN in 1997, despite objections from Western democracies to its inclusion in the regional gathering, deemed an important forum for east-west cooperation on security and economic issues.
“ASEAN has a special responsibility in promoting further democratisation in Myanmar,” said Ban.
He also urged Myanmar’s ruling junta to be more “pro-active” in realizing democratic reforms and to engage in a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
International pressure to force political change in Myanmar gained momentum in the aftermath of a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests led by Buddhist monks Sep 26-27.
At least 15 people died in the crackdown, according to official figures. The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights recently claimed the death toll was at least double that figure.
Despite near-universal condemnation of the crackdown, Southeast Asian governments refused to allow the ASEAN summit held in Singapore last month to be used to criticize Myanmar.
ASEAN, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, offers a market to Myanmar’s exports, such as natural gas exports to Thailand.
China, however, is deemed a more powerful ally to Myanmar’s junta given its veto power at the UN’s Security Council.
Ban’s itinerary in Thailand included, among other things, an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Monday afternoon.