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Published on January 30, 2008

The European Union (EU) has urged the new government, which is due to become chairman of Asean in July, to work with the international community to promote human rights, democracy and peace in neighbouring Burma.

"The EU wants to cooperate with Thailand's government to promote a positive solution in Burma," said Piero Fassino, EU Special Envoy to Burma.

Thailand, as the next chairman of Asean, could play a major role in moving Burma towards democracy and human rights as the group has adopted a new charter promoting both these important issues.

Fassino was in Thailand yesterday to push cooperation to facilitate political dialogue in military-ruled Burma, which has been stuck in political deadlock for years.

The country was rocked by huge street protests in late September, led by Buddhist monks, until a brutal crackdown by the military, which left at least 31 dead and saw thousands arrested.

The EU envoy met outgoing Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, who said the interim government led by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont had similar wishes as the international community and EU - and wanted to see full democracy and better human rights in Burma.

Fassino, appointed as the special envoy on Burma in November, is on an Asian tour that has already taken him to Beijing and Jakarta. He will visit India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Japan over the next two months to seek cooperation in achieving his mission.

The EU's strategy was to promote a dialogue between all the different actors in Burma - the junta, the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, plus representatives of ethnic minority groups, he said.

The EU envoy said he was working in collaboration with the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, whom he hoped would have a chance to visit Burma soon to facilitate political dialogue.

"Meetings with 'The Lady', Aung San Suu Kyi, and representatives of the junta were very important but now it's necessary to open a new, more concrete phase. I think it's necessary to open a real dialogue between the junta and the opposition and all sectors in Burmese society," he said.

Supalak G Khundee

The Nation