UN calls for Asean to put more efforts on Burma

Ibrahim Gambari, the UN's Special Envoy to Burma, made the warning yesterday during a visit to Thailand on the first leg of an Asian tour to raise concerns about the junta's alleged human rights violations in the wake of recent demonstrations.

"The purpose of the UN secretary general's 'good office' role is to change the behaviour of the regime and we believe that all those with influence in the process ought to engage," Mr Gambari said.

"Not just Thailand but all the countries that I am visiting, India, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the UN, we could do more."

The envoy said he brought a special message from UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to urge Thailand to help facilitate his long stay in Burma by engaging all concerned parties to get his mission done.

"We will not rest until the goals that we all share, which is peace, prosperity, democratisation, and full respect of human rights, are attained in Myanmar [Burma]," Gambari said after a meeting with foreign minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.

He urged the authorities in Burma to stop arresting dissidents, interrogation and acts of intimidation extremely disturbing and against spirit of mutual engagement between the UN and Burma.

"These actions must stop at once. Let me reiterate here, the UN calls on the Burmese government to release all political detainees including those arrested during the demonstrations and to allow access by the ICRC to those in detention," he said.

by Supalak G Khundee

The Nation