Bangkok,(DPA) United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari started a regional tour in Bangkok Monday to push Myanmar’s neighbours and regional partners to help resolve the Myanmar crisis.
The trip comes only weeks after the military junta there cracked down on peaceful protestors in late September and early October and imposed draconian security measures including a curfew, closing of Internet access and arresting more than 1,000 protestors.
“The UN is committed to do everything it can to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis and help Myanmar address the political and economic tendencies underlining the recent unrest,” he said after meeting Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.
His current mission is to discuss with regional partners any efforts that are complementary to the UN’s, and call on Myanmar “to cooperate with our efforts with the support of Asean and the regional countries”.
“My hope is soon after this mission I will be able to go to Myanmar. I have an invitation to return there by the middle of November, confirmed by the highest level of the government, but we hope that I can go there sooner than later,” he said.
Gambari was scheduled to meet Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont Monday afternoon.
Thailand is the first leg of a trip to Asia to discuss strategies for dealing with Myanmar in the wake of its junta’s brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Gambari is the special envoy on Myanmar affairs for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and leaves Bangkok Tuesday for Malaysia, followed by visits to Indonesia, India, China and Japan.
He was in Myanmar from Sep 29 to Oct 2, meeting the head of Myanmar’s junta, Senior General Than Shwe and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest since May 2003.
As a result of the meeting, Than Shwe agreed to appoint a “minister of relations” to pave the way for a political dialogue with Suu Kyi, but he has set conditions for the talks that Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, must drop her calls for confrontation with the regime and her support of Western sanctions against the country.
There is great scepticism about the regime’s sincerity about the talks with Suu Kyi and willingness to relinquish the absolute power it has held over the country for the past 45 years.
The army’s willingness to crack down on protests led by Buddhist monks last month, which killed at least 10 demonstrators and shocked the world, bears testimony to the junta’s determination to stay in command.
Past efforts by the United Nations to get tough on Myanmar have consistently been undermined by China, which holds veto power on the UN Security Council.
Last week the council approved a watered-down statement deploring the Myanmar military government’s repression of pro-democracy demonstrators after China opposed the strong language demanded by Western governments.
Council members claimed victory as all 15 members supported the statement, which was the first ever issued by the body on Myanmar.