UN seeks bigger role for Suu Kyi

by Amy Kazmin

May 21, 2006 - (Financial Times, London) A top United Nations political official called for Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader, to be allowed to make “a contribution” to her country after he was unexpectedly allowed to meet her while assessing conditions in the military-ruled country. The 45-minute meeting between Ibrahim Gambari, the UN undersecretary-general for political affairs, and Ms Suu Kyi was the first contact the Nobel laureate has been permitted with any foreign diplomats or mediators since March 2004.

Afterwards, Mr Gambari told diplomats and journalists that Ms Suu Kyi – who has spent the past three years under house arrest, without a telephone and prohibited from receiving visitors other than a housemaid and a doctor – was well. “She feels she has a contribution to make, and I hope she will be allowed to make it,” Mr Gambari said after his three-day visit to Burma, during which he was also granted a rare audience with Senior General Than Shwe, the country’s strongman.

Analysts said the decision by Gen Than Shwe to let Mr Gambari meet Ms Suu Kyi during the trip, the first by a senior UN official in two years, appeared to be “pre-emptive diplomacy” intend-ed to prevent the slow-burning crisis in Burma from being raised at the UN Security Council. “The main concern of Than Shwe is the Security Council,” said one Bangkok-based diplomat, who closely monitors development in Burma. “They don’t want to have Burma discussed there at every occasion.”

China, one of the military junta’s biggest patrons, is also thought to have urged the regime to show flexibility amid growing calls by Washington legislators for the Bush administration to push for stronger UN action.

Mr Gambari’s visit was made amid a rising international outcry against the apparent targeting of ethnic minority Karen civilians, as part of an aggressive military offensive against the Karen National Union, an armed group that has been fighting for political autonomy for nearly six decades. During his meeting with Gen Than Shwe, Mr Gambari relayed UN concerns that thousands of Karen civilians had been driven from their homes and also about proposed restrictions on UN and humanitarian workers. The senior general apparently offered to “explore ways” to ease access for aid groups to the needy, diplomats said.


From: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ae7b445e-e8e6-11da-b110-0000779e2340.html