Gambari Defends UN against “Inaction on Burma” Charge

By The Irrawaddy
September 4, 2007

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, said in a letter published by a leading American newspaper on Tuesday that the Burmese regime's response to recent demonstrations was "all the more disappointing, as it runs counter to the spirit of the good offices mandate."

The letter to the Washington Post was in response to an editorial in which the newspaper criticized UN inaction over Burma. "UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy for Burma has been missing in action," it said.

Gambari responded: "I have been the only international actor to maintain face-to-face dialogue with Myanmar's [Burma's] leaders about the need for democracy and human rights.

“In that context, I have been able to advance the international community's concerns directly with Myanmar's [Burma’s] senior leadership and with Aung San Suu Kyi each time I have visited Myanmar [Burma]."

Gambari said the Washington Post had ignored the efforts made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon through his "good offices mandate" to promote national reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.

"Since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed me three months ago to continue this work on his behalf, no effort has been spared to rally international support behind the mandate," Gambari wrote.

"As a result, for the first time, all key interested countries, including China, India, Russia and Myanmar's [Burma’s] Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbors, are mobilized to encourage the country to make progress."

As a part of a larger plan to consult key nations ahead of the secretary-general’s announcement of a new approach on Burma—restoring democracy, protecting human rights and negotiating with the military junta on the release of pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi—Gambari also recently visited Russia and several European capitals—including Paris, Brussels, London and Geneva—and key Asian capitals: Beijing, New Delhi and Tokyo.

"Expectations are high that the Myanmar [Burma] government will continue to cooperate," Gambari said. "Engagement is not an end in itself: Process must translate into real progress. But let us not forget that until recently, there was no opening for dialogue between Myanmar [Burma] and the international community."

Gambari has visited Burma twice, in May and November 2006. Charles Petrie, UN resident coordinator in Burma, told The Irrawaddy by phone on Tuesday that Gambari intended to return but no date had been fixed.