The United Nations is Sending Its Adviser Back to the Myanmar Region
Gambari will go to Thailand on Monday, and will then go to Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China, and Japan. According to the press release, Gambari is travelling with "a view to returning to Myanmar shortly thereafter," a wording that gives the impression that the U.N. may not yet have been able to make arrangements and/or get permission for Gambari to reenter Myanmar on this trip.
Gambari returned from the region just a little more than a week ago, having traveled to Myanmar on behalf of the United Nations from September 29 to October 2. While there, he met with members of the military government and met twice with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the country's pro-democracy movement.
Gambari was not, however, allowed to meet with representatives of the monks or of the 88 Generation Students, a group important in organizing the current protests (the name refers to their origins in Myanmar's 1988 uprising). Many of the group's leaders have been arrested, including one who was arrested just this week on Wednesday afternoon. Others have been detained since August.
Myanmar was previously known as Burma, and some countries, organizations, and individuals still call it by its original name to show their disapproval of the name change made by the military government. The current round of protests began in April 2007, and by September, thousands of Buddhist monks and nuns, who are highly respected figures in the country, were leading large peaceful protests in the streets. The government responded violently, shooting at protestors, and there are reports that the government has committed other atrocities.
Sources:
Secretary-General Sends Special Adviser Back to Asia for Consultations on Myanmar, United Nations Department of Public Information, October 11, 2007
Speed Up Myanmar Reconciliation Process, Urges Secretary-General as his Special Adviser Briefs Security Council on Recent Visit, United Nations Department of Public Information, October 5, 2007
Profile: 88 Generation Students, BBC, August 27, 2007
88 Generation Student Leader Arrested, Democratic Voice of Burma News, October 10, 2007
Published by May Monten
Syndicated entertainment writer and serial blogger. View profile
- Economic Troubles Lead to Myanmar ProtestsThe Power and Interest Report has published a new web briefing on the economic factors underlying the Myanmar protests.
- Russian Economic Policy Drives Interests in MyanmarThe Power and Interest report has published a new intelligence brief on Russian policy in Myanmar.
- Aid and Charity Organizations for the Myanmar CycloneCyclone Nargris tore into the area of Rangoon (Yangon), in the country of Burma on May 2. Burma also called Myanmar is facing major crises with over 22,900 deaths being reported at this time. This number being expecte...
Myanmar in Chaos As the government of Myanmar uses its military might to put down protest in the country. some people in Myanmar believe the U.N. will do nothing - If We Want Burma’s Oil, First Thing to Do: Accept the Fact that Burmese Also...The First Lady is trying to push USA into another Vietnam tangle. It is high time she stopped her Myanmar rhetoric.
- UN Special Envoy and Japanese Officials Call on Myanmar Government
- United Nations Security Council Speaks Out Against Violence in Myanmar
- President Bush Announces New Sanctions Against the Military Government of Myanmar
- Rice Urges United Nations Special Envoy to Return to Myanmar
- United Nations Special Envoy is Inside Myanmar, Meeting with Officials
- United Nations Sending Special Envoy to Myanmar Region
- In Myanmar, Pro-Democracy Leader and Military Government Say They Are Willing to T...