UN Secretary-General heads to Burma

Posted on June 30, 2009
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Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General is due to arrive in Burma on Friday for a two-day visit.
In a press statement, Ban’s spokesperson Michele Montas said he would address directly with the senior leadership a broad range of issues. In particular, she pointed to political prisoners, the resumption of dialogue between the Government and opposition to achieve national reconciliation and setting the stage for credible elections.
For the last half a year, there have been calls for Ban to visit Burma and personally push for the release of political prisoners, most notably opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, Ban has repeatedly said he would not go unless there were reasonable expectations for a meaningful result (see: Should he stay or should he go?)
Last week, Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s special envoy to Burma made a short visit to the country in preparation for Ban’s visit. But, he left without meeting either Suu Kyi or senior General Than Shwe.
And, already expectations for Ban’s visit are low. The Irrawaddy reports Win Tin, a senior member of the opposition National League for Democracy as saying there was little hope for Suu Kyi’s release from the visit.
Ban’s last visit to Burma followed Cyclone Nargis, when he managed to get the junta to agree to open the country up to overseas aid agencies.

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