Burmese opposition leader says UN's actions aren't enough

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/02/asia/myanmar.3-421326.php

The Associated PressPublished: February 2, 2009


YANGON, Myanmar: The detained Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, expressed frustration to a UN envoy Monday over the organization's failure to persuade the country's military leaders to give up their monopoly on power, her party said.

The Nobel laureate in peace, who has spent more than 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest, was briefly allowed out Monday for a meeting with the UN representative, Ibrahim Gambari.

Nyan Win, a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, said that during the meeting she had explained to Gambari that "she was ready and willing to meet anyone" to achieve political reform but "could not accept having meetings without achieving any outcome."



Aung San Suu Kyi's party has charged that Gambari's seven visits since 2007 have produced no tangible democratic progress, noting that they have not persuaded the junta to release political prisoners or to hold talks with the democratic opposition.

In August, Aung San Suu Kyi snubbed Gambari by failing to keep an expected appointment with him and refusing to open the gates of her Yangon home to his representatives. The gesture was surprising because Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest keeps her in extreme isolation, and Gambari is one of the few outsiders - other than her lawyer and doctor - allowed to see her.

Today in Asia & Pacific
Canberra and Tokyo step up stimulusConcern as money moves out of ChinaSeoul fears North Korea may test missileMyanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962, when it was known as Burma, tolerates no dissent and crushed pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007. Human rights groups say it is holding more than 2,100 political prisoners, up sharply from nearly 1,200 before the demonstrations.

Gambari arrived Saturday for a four-day visit. He said earlier that his objectives were to urge the junta to free political prisoners, discuss the ailing economy and revive a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi.

Nyan Win said Aung San Suu Kyi also told the UN official that rule of law does not exist in Myanmar and referred to lengthy sentences given to political prisoners, the arrest of defense lawyers and other actions by the junta.

He said the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon - who visited in May after Cyclone Nargis devastated coastal areas - should not make any further visits until Aung San Suu Kyiand other political prisoners have been released.

It was unclear whether Gambari would meet with the junta leader, Senior General Than Shwe, who has shunned him on his last three visits.

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