U.N. Envoy Says Recent Crackdown By Myanmar Is 'Setback' To Democracy

Siddique Islam - AHN South Asia Correspondent

New York, NY (AHN) - The recent crackdown by Myanmar's government on demonstrators protesting fuel prices is a setback for the country and calls into question the government's commitment to democratization, the United Nations envoy to the country said on Wednesday as he detailed plans to revisit Myanmar as early as next month.

Speaking to reporters in New York, Special Adviser on Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari reiterated the call of UN officials for the government to release all of its political detainees, including those people arrested in the past few weeks as a result of the demonstrations over the surge in fuel prices.

"These incidents of recent times cannot be seen in any other way than a setback for Myanmar," Gambari said, referring to the government's response to the protests.

"They are all the more disappointing as they not only have the effect of calling into question the stated commitment to democratization and national reconciliation by the authorities, but also make it more difficult to maintain support, international support, for engagement with Myanmar at a time when we believe strongly that the country needs international assistance in addressing the many pressing challenges, from political and human rights issues to humanitarian and socio-economic problems."

Burma, officially known as Myanmar, has been widely criticized for its human rights violations including the continued house arrest of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The country has been under military control since 1962.

The UN envoy also described the national convention process, the first step under the road map outlined by the government for political reform, as flawed, given that it excluded opponents of the government.

Gambari, who has held extensive consultations in capitals across Asia, Europe and North America since assuming his post earlier this year, said he expects his next visit to Myanmar could took place by mid-October.

The special adviser noted that the UN is the only international actor to maintain a face-to-face dialogue with Myanmar's top leaders and with Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who remains under house arrest. For three years, there was no dialogue between the international community and Myanmar.

Gambari also said the UN is focusing its efforts on a much broader range of issues than before - not only the release of political prisoners, but also questions of humanitarian access and progress towards implementing the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in health and education.