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cwemory
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Location: Gunpo, Korea
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 Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 2:47 am Post subject: UN official sees Burma's Suu Kyi |
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UN official sees Burma's Suu Kyi
A leading UN official, Ibrahim Gambari, has met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as he continues his mission to press for democratic reform in Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for more than 10 of the past 17 years, told him she was in good health but needed more regular medical visits.
Mr Gambari began the day with talks with Burma's military leaders.
His visit comes as the US says it plans to introduce a UN resolution on human rights abuses in Burma.
The international community is increasing pressure on Burma to make serious changes to its harsh regime.
So far there has been little indication that the ruling generals are willing to co-operate.
Mr Gambari's talks will therefore be watched closely for signs of a possible breakthrough.
He began the day in Burma's new capital, Nay Pyi Taw, where he met military ruler Than Shwe and other senior officials.
Back in Rangoon, he held talks with members of Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy.
Losing patience
Mr Gambari last visited Burma in May, when he was given the rare opportunity of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, widely seen as a symbol of resistance to Burma's ruling military junta.
It was the first time in more than two years that a foreigner had been allowed to meet her, and the visit fuelled hopes that she would soon be released, and that the military might finally make some concessions to international demands.
But almost as soon as Mr Gambari left the country, such hopes were dashed.
The international community is gradually losing patience with Burma's lack of progress towards democracy, as well as the many allegations of human rights abuse.
The United Nations Security Council tabled discussions on Burma in September, and the US wants the council to draft a resolution on the issue as soon as possible.
By allowing Mr Gambari to visit Aung San Suu Kyi for a second time, the generals may be preparing to offer some sort of olive branch, says the BBC's Kate McGeown in Bangkok.
But it is clear that nothing less than a solid commitment on reform will be enough to satisfy the international community. |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6139076.stm |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 3:07 am Post subject: |
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If there was any place to attack and rid a tyrant, Myanmar would be it.
But it is all about expediency and as has been noted with Sudan/Dafar, not just a little unconscious racism. So no attack. And I am thankful for this though disgusted by this regime.
Other nations should support NOT economic blockades but making it hard for those at the pig's trough. Than Shwe's daughter just got married, fat as can be and with millions in gifts while people not 100m away starve. Disgusting and I think Myanmar is exactly the case of how business (and politics has unfortunately become all business, in most countries the world over, a way to make not create....) is blind and in so many ways "inhuman". The devil continues to have a good hold of many souls and we should ask our governments to stop the trade, military and otherwise, with those of this ilk. Or what is a heaven for???
End of rant.
Thanks for posting this, we need be reminded of those courageous enough to be patient and seek non violent means.
DD |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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In the spirit of Mahatma Ghandi she is proving to the world once again how weak violence & worldy oppression is.
With the way her life has been unfolding she will likely die a martyred political prisoner of conscience. |
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cwemory
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Location: Gunpo, Korea
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:00 am Post subject: |
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Myanmar: Life under sanctions
Al Jazeera.net |
excerpts from the article concerning Aung San Suu Kyi:
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Aung San Suu Kyi, the figurehead of pro-democracy movement, Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader, is probably the best known person in Myanmar today.
But most people are afraid to speak about her and her name is rarely mentioned. |
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She is nonetheless an iconic figure and "The Lady", as she is known, is the focus for those opposed to the military leadership.
Her party won elections in 1990, but was never allowed to take power. The generals in charge cannot understand why Aung San Suu Kyi commands so much admiration.
We were banned from filming her house, so we had to take pictures secretly in the early morning.
All the offices of her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), apart from its run-down Yangon headquarters, have been forced to close.
Suu Kyi's father is Myanmar�s national hero, General Aung San, who led the war for independence.
His daughter's influence also runs deep. NLD party officials within Myanmar feel they cannot alter policy without her express permission � but they are unable to talk to her in detention.
Earlier this month Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations under-secretary general, met Aung San Suu Kyi at a government guest house. |
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She told Gambari that she was in good health but needed more regular medical visits, according to a UN statement released after the meeting.
Critics say the government only allowed the visit to appease the United Nations but it did not mean changes the UN is calling for, including the release of political prisoners, are in the works.
We met one NLD official in secret and agreed to protect his identity. He told us people in Myanmar are suffering today - whether or not there are sanctions - economically and socially.
Things will only change, he said, when there is a people's government and that will not happen until there is dialogue.
The NLD official said his party has asked for a dialogue but the government has not replied.
We were invited to hear the government's point of view from Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan, the information minister.
He was clear where the blame lay. The United States government, he said, was "trying to deteriorate the situation in order to put a puppet government in power".
"The US government interfered in Iraqi affairs by misusing the UN," he told us. "[They are] also trying to apply similar tactics in Myanmar." |
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As for Aung San Suu Kyi�s confinement, the general told us she and the NLD "have been following the wrong path, calling on people to defy orders, inciting confrontations, calling for full sanctions, and relying on external elements."
He disagreed that the crowds who turned out to hear the NLD leader speak when she was free mean that she is popular.
"Myanmar people are honest and simple, when Aung San Suu Kyi visited villages they were curious."
The pre-industrial economic policies of self-reliance imposed by the ruling generals make a trip into Myanmar�s rural heartland like taking a step back in time. |
lengthy article but well recommended:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/55ABE840-AC30-41D2-BDC9-06BBE2A36665.htm |
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