UN Special Envoy and Japanese Officials Call on Myanmar Government
To Begin a Genuine Dialogue with the Opposition
Gambari met with Japan's Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and other officials. In addition to discussing the need for the Myanmar government to begin a dialogue and start a process of national reconciliation, they also discussed what Japan could do to help Myanmar meet "the humanitarian and socio-economic needs of its people."
Gambari has been travelling through the region for the past two weeks to consult with regional partners about the situation in Myanmar. Although there were initially some questions about whether Gambari would be allowed to enter Myanmar itself, according to the UN News Centre Gambari will, in fact, be going to Myanmar during the first week of November. That will be his second visit there since the government started violently cracking down against peaceful protestors in September.
On this trip, Gambari has also gone to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and China. The UN News Centre reported that after Gambari met with Chinese officials, and had "detailed and extensive discussions" with them, the Chinese government issued a statement of support for Gambari's efforts.
In other news, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with a high-ranking Myanmar government official on Thursday, and according to the AP, the government released 70 people, including 10 monks and 50 members of the National League for Democracy, who were being held in the "infamous" Insein Prison in Yangon (formerly Rangoon).
Sources
UN envoy and Japanese officials urge Myanmar to begin talks with opposition, UN News Centre, October 26, 2007
UN envoy concludes talks with Chinese officials on Myanmar crisis, UN News Centre, October 25, 2007
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi meets junta official, AFP, October 25, 2007
Detainees Freed in Myanmar, Associated Press, October 26, 2007
See also
May Monten, The United Nations is Sending Its Adviser Back to the Myanmar Region, Associated Content, October 11, 2007
Published by May Monten
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