Gambari extends visit after failing to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi

Posted on August 22, 2008
Filed Under Burma news |

Gambari: Still hoping to meet with Suu Kyi

Gambari: Still hoping to meet with Suu Kyi

It is being reported that Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s special envoy to Burma will extend his visit to the country by one day after failing to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Gambari was due to leave Burma today at the end of a five day visit. He has already met with representatives of the junta as well as civil society groups and political parties, including leaders of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. He also found time to tour areas affected by Cyclone Nargis.

Gambari was scheduled to meet Suu Kyi on Wednesday. But she failed to attend. Her absence is being interrupted as a sign of her displeasure at the lack of progress in Gambari’s mission to promote dialogue between the junta and the opposition.

This is Gambari’s fourth visit to Burma in the past year and despite minor concessions by the junta following the violent crackdown on peaceful protests last year, there have been few tangible results from Gambari’s efforts.

In May, despite much of the country still recovering from Cyclone Nargis, the junta forced through a referendum on a new constitution. The new charter will enshrine military rule and increase the junta’s control of the country.

Within the UN Security Council, the US has threatened to increase pressure on the junta if they fail to cooperate with Gambari (see: US spells out goals for Gambari’s visit, threatens increased UN pressure). If Gambari does leave without meeting Suu Kyi, his visit may well be interrupted as a failure. He has already failed to meet with the junta’s senior leader, Than Shwe.

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