 (photo: AP / Leon Neal, Pool) |
Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her National League for Democracy party, and others have written a letter welcoming a possible visit by the secretary-general to "discuss a broad range of issues," U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari told reporters Friday after briefing the Security Council on his recent trip to Myanmar.
The British and French ambassadors said they would also support a return visit by Ban, who last traveled to Myanmar in May 2008 after Cyclone Nargis devastated coastal areas and persuaded the junta's leaders to ease access for foreign aid workers and relief supplies.
"At this point I cannot confirm any trip," U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said. "The decision has not been taken yet."
What appears to be holding up a decision is uncertainty over the outcome of any such visit.
"Everybody realizes that there will be high expectations from such a visit," Gambari said.
Two recent trips by Gambari produced no movement on the key issues of opening dialogue between Suu Kyi and the government, releasing her and some 2,200 other political prisoners, promoting national reconciliation, and ensuring that elections scheduled for next year will include all opposition and minority groups.
When Gambari was asked whether the country's military leaders need to send some kind of positive signal before the secretary-general visits Myanmar, the U.N. envoy replied that Ban asked him to tell the government that there were "no preconditions." Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy also said "there should be no preconditions," he said.
He said he told the government "that the actions that they take between now and in the next few months will send signals to the secretary-general."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on a trip through Asia, lamented this week that neither U.S. sanctions nor prodding by regional nations have convinced the junta in Myanmar, which was previously known as Burma, to embrace democracy or release Suu Kyi, who has spent more than 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest. Clinton said the U.S. planned to work closely with the region on ideas on "how best to bring about positive change in Burma."
Myanmar's current military leadership came to power in 1988 after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy movement. It held elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results after Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory. The junta tolerates no dissent and crushed pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks in September 2007.
France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said if Ban thinks a trip is relevant "we will support him because anything that could help obtaining something for the freedom of the people of Burma will be useful."
Britain's U.N. Ambassador John Sawers echoed the sentiment. "We believe that should the secretary-general decide
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