Will Ban Ki-moon’s trip to Burma be fruitful?
Chiang Mai - Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General will visit Burma on Friday. And during his two-day stay, Ban has sought a meeting with Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling junta’s military Chief Senior General Than Shwe.
According to a UN statement, the world leader will urge Burma to implement three changes - the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, resumption of dialogue for national reconciliation and to create a political ambience and legal frame work conducive to holding a credible election in 2010.
To analyse the UN chief’s visit to Burma and whether he will be able to achieve his goals, Mizzima’s Editor Sein Win talks to Dr. Thaung Tun, the UN representative of Burma’s government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma.
Q: As an envoy to the UN, what is the expectation you have of Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma?
A: Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma is an important stage for the United Nations in its efforts to facilitate a process of national reconciliation in Burma. The involvement of the Secretary General himself, in trying to help resolve Burma’s problems show that Burma has become a hot issue in the political agenda of the international community.
After Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was charged for violating the terms of her house arrest by sheltering an uninvited American man, who swam to her lake side home and stayed there for two nights, not only leaders from western democracies but also regional countries including the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and China have called for her release and for national reconciliation and democratic reforms in the country.
With such changes, the visit of Ban can be viewed as a step forward and it is a good prospect to address the political problems in Burma.
Q: Do you hope that Aung San Suu Kyi will be freed, which is one of the important steps for solving Burma’s problem?
The Secretary General has said the purpose of his visit is for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. I remember that he had mentioned about it through diplomatic channels and in a press release.
A: As far as I know, I believe the Secretary General will set his priority in discussing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. We need to view Ban’s visit as a process not as a onetime visit. We need to see it as the UN’s process of mediating in the political problems in Burma. Therefore, there is interconnection between the three factors that Ban has said he will raise during his visit.
Q: Some said the junta has agreed to host Ban Ki-moon because of pressure from China. Do you think the Burmese regime will listen?
A: For whatever reason the junta may be accepting Ban’s visit, it is a first step. And it gives the UN an opportunity to deal with the regime and talk to them. As I have mentioned earlier, if we look at it as a process, then regional countries must continue to maintain diplomatic pressure until there is a response by the junta.
Q: Some critics have pointed out that the visit of Ban Ki-moon might legitimize the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. What is your view on that?
A: The Secretary General has said the purpose of his visit is for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. I remember that he had mentioned about it through diplomatic channels and in a press release. The trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has created a negative impact on national reconciliation as she is the main partner for a dialogue. Since she is essential for dialogue, the visit of Ban will not legitimize the ongoing trial.
Q: Opposition groups and pro-democracy groups have long called for a dialogue but the regime does not seem to pay any attention. Why is it so do you think?
A: Dialogue is a diplomatic means. For two sides to engage in dialogue several other factors are needed. Especially, for the military regime that holds power there must be a driving force that will push them to a dialogue. The situation must compel them for having a dialogue.
But Burma still lacks such a situation. And if we are to sum-up, the international community is still divided in their approach to Burma, and there is a lack of unity and collective force. And because of these divisions, the UN Security Council could not apply strong pressure that could result in a change in Burma.
Another factor is we, as pro-democracy groups, also need to act more for changes inside our country. I think we still lack unity, and could not pressure the regime to implement changes and we also could not inject the sense of the need for change in the military.
Q: Despite several visits by representatives of the UN to Burma, there have been no concrete changes. Do you think the role of UN is still important in trying to solve Burma’s problem?
A: We have all seen that the UN’s performance on Burma’s problem is not effective yet. However, the UN is the only body which can legally intervene and address the problems in sovereign countries. It is impossible to solve the political problems of Burma by political means without the UN.
This article was first published by Mizzima News
According to a UN statement, the world leader will urge Burma to implement three changes - the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, resumption of dialogue for national reconciliation and to create a political ambience and legal frame work conducive to holding a credible election in 2010.
To analyse the UN chief’s visit to Burma and whether he will be able to achieve his goals, Mizzima’s Editor Sein Win talks to Dr. Thaung Tun, the UN representative of Burma’s government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma.
Q: As an envoy to the UN, what is the expectation you have of Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma?
A: Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Burma is an important stage for the United Nations in its efforts to facilitate a process of national reconciliation in Burma. The involvement of the Secretary General himself, in trying to help resolve Burma’s problems show that Burma has become a hot issue in the political agenda of the international community.
After Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was charged for violating the terms of her house arrest by sheltering an uninvited American man, who swam to her lake side home and stayed there for two nights, not only leaders from western democracies but also regional countries including the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and China have called for her release and for national reconciliation and democratic reforms in the country.
With such changes, the visit of Ban can be viewed as a step forward and it is a good prospect to address the political problems in Burma.
Q: Do you hope that Aung San Suu Kyi will be freed, which is one of the important steps for solving Burma’s problem?
The Secretary General has said the purpose of his visit is for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. I remember that he had mentioned about it through diplomatic channels and in a press release.
A: As far as I know, I believe the Secretary General will set his priority in discussing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. We need to view Ban’s visit as a process not as a onetime visit. We need to see it as the UN’s process of mediating in the political problems in Burma. Therefore, there is interconnection between the three factors that Ban has said he will raise during his visit.
Q: Some said the junta has agreed to host Ban Ki-moon because of pressure from China. Do you think the Burmese regime will listen?
A: For whatever reason the junta may be accepting Ban’s visit, it is a first step. And it gives the UN an opportunity to deal with the regime and talk to them. As I have mentioned earlier, if we look at it as a process, then regional countries must continue to maintain diplomatic pressure until there is a response by the junta.
Q: Some critics have pointed out that the visit of Ban Ki-moon might legitimize the trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. What is your view on that?
A: The Secretary General has said the purpose of his visit is for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. I remember that he had mentioned about it through diplomatic channels and in a press release. The trial against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has created a negative impact on national reconciliation as she is the main partner for a dialogue. Since she is essential for dialogue, the visit of Ban will not legitimize the ongoing trial.
Q: Opposition groups and pro-democracy groups have long called for a dialogue but the regime does not seem to pay any attention. Why is it so do you think?
A: Dialogue is a diplomatic means. For two sides to engage in dialogue several other factors are needed. Especially, for the military regime that holds power there must be a driving force that will push them to a dialogue. The situation must compel them for having a dialogue.
But Burma still lacks such a situation. And if we are to sum-up, the international community is still divided in their approach to Burma, and there is a lack of unity and collective force. And because of these divisions, the UN Security Council could not apply strong pressure that could result in a change in Burma.
Another factor is we, as pro-democracy groups, also need to act more for changes inside our country. I think we still lack unity, and could not pressure the regime to implement changes and we also could not inject the sense of the need for change in the military.
Q: Despite several visits by representatives of the UN to Burma, there have been no concrete changes. Do you think the role of UN is still important in trying to solve Burma’s problem?
A: We have all seen that the UN’s performance on Burma’s problem is not effective yet. However, the UN is the only body which can legally intervene and address the problems in sovereign countries. It is impossible to solve the political problems of Burma by political means without the UN.
This article was first published by Mizzima News
sfux - 5. Jul, 20:10 Article 6168x read
