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Published on September 29, 2007

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont took the stage at the UN General Assembly yesterday, echoing Asean member countries and calling upon the Burmese junta to stop using force against the massive demonstrations that have already killed many people.

Surayud's original speech on Thai democracy was changed at the last minute and was updated to include Asean's firm stance on the deteriorating situation.

Thailand and Burma, being predominantly Buddhist nations, share the belief of non-violence and tolerance.

"Thailand therefore finds as unacceptable the use of violence and bodily harm to Buddhists monks and other demonstrators in Yangon [Rangoon]," he told the audience at the UN.

Prior to Surayud's speech, foreign ministers of the regional grouping had met on the sidelines of the UN meeting to take a common position over the crisis.

They expressed their revulsion to Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win over reports that demonstrators were being suppressed by violent force and that there had been a number of fatalities.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo, as the chair of the grouping, issued a statement after the meeting calling on Burma to "exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution".

Burma was urged to resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties and to work towards a peaceful transition to democracy. The Asean ministers also called for the release of all political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

With the support of Asean, UN special envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari was given the green light to visit Burma. Nyan Win assured the meeting that his visa would be issued in Singapore.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon approved the decision and called on the Burmese authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with his special envoy and to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation.

Gambari was on his way to Singapore and was expected to arrive in Burma in a couple of days, said Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

 Asean asked the Burmese government to cooperate fully with Gambari.

"Gambari's role as a neutral interlocutor among all the parties can help defuse the dangerous situation," said the Asean chair's statement.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Burma should fully engage with Gambari and allow access for him to find a solution toward democracy.

"Now there is no going backward, there is a need for political process … they should not deal with the demonstration by using violence," Syed told reporters after the Asean meeting.

Nyan Win refused to give an interview to journalists, but Syed said his Burmese counterpart thought that some parties were trying to create instability within Burma.

"But we want to see the tangible side of political reconciliation, and that Aung San Suu Kyi is released," Syed said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a meeting with her Asean counterparts - which Nyan Win did not attend - praised the Asean move.

"The US is determined to keep an international focus on the travesty in Burma," Rice told reporters after the meeting.

Supalak G Khundee

The Nation

UNITED NATIONS