United Nations Special Envoy is Inside Myanmar, Meeting with Officials
The Myanmar military government has been condemned by much of the world since it violently cracked down in September on peaceful protests led by the country's Buddhist monks.
Just this past Friday, the day before Gambari was scheduled to arrive, the Myanmar government had said that it wanted to expel Charles Petrie, another United Nations representative, who was working in their country. The Myanmar government was angry about a statement the UN Country Team, headed by Petrie, had issued on October 24 that contained comments about Myanmar's socio-economic situation that the government deemed inappropriate.
When Special Envoy Gambari arrived in Myanmar on Saturday, he met with Resident Coordinator Petrie and told him that he had the support of the United Nation's Secretary-General.
According to anonymous sources who talked to the AP, Gambari also met with representatives of the International Red Cross, but more information about the meeting was not yet available.
On November 1, the International Red Cross had issued a statement officially asking the government of Myamar to give it access to all people being detained by the government, especially those who were locked up in connection with the protests in September and October. Many of the families of the detainees don't know where their relatives are. The Red Cross wants to restore contact between the detainees and their families and to check to see if the detainees are being treated humanely, as required by international law.
Sources
Special envoy tackles relations between Myanmar and UN country team , UN News Centre, November 5, 2007
Ban Ki-moon 'disappointed' by Myanmar's attempt to end UN official's service, UN News Centre, November 2, 2007
UN envoy meets with Red Cross in Myanmar, AP, November 5, 2007
The ICRC prepared to resume visits to detainees in Myanmar, Official Statement, November 1, 2007
See also
United Nations Sending Special Envoy to Myanmar Region by May Monten, Associated Content, September 27, 2007
The United Nations is Sending Its Adviser Back to the Myanmar Region by May Monten, Associated Content, October 11, 2007
Published by May Monten
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