Gambari in Naypyidaw

The UN special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, is visiting Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw, to meet with junta top officials on Friday, the same day he arrived in Rangoon. It is uncertain whether he will meet Snr-Gen Than Shwe or opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

There is no sign so far of a meeting with the Burmese opposition, however.

Nyan Win, the spokesperson for the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy, said he received no notification from Burmese authorities regarding a meeting with the UN envoy.

Gambari will meet senior Burmese officials from the military government during his two-day trip.

On Saturday, the Nigerian diplomat will return to Rangoon and hold talks with Burmese officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will then return to the UN headquarters and brief UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, before Ban leaves New York for Japan on Monday, said a UN spokesperson in New York.

The UN envoy is visiting Burma to prepare for a possible visit by Ban.

Ban Ki-moon is reportedly concerned that his possible trip to Burma could be exploited by the Burmese generals, who have put Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on trial.

He will decide whether to fly to Burma after Gambari has briefed him on the outcome of his trip.

Some observers believe that the Burmese officials will treat the UN envoy properly this time, as they want the UN secretary general to come to Burma. They commented that the Burmese generals want to politically exploit a trip by Ban.

Western diplomats in Rangoon believe that the UN envoy will convey Ban’s demands prior to his making a visit to the Burmese generals.

Journalists at the UN headquarters in New York reported on June 11 that Ban said: “Promoting democratization, including the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, has been one of my top priorities and it will continue to be my top priority.”

More than 2,000 political prisoners are now being detained by the Burmese regime in Burma, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).

Observers are hoping that Gambari’s current trip to Burma will get at least one concession from the junta before Ban makes a trip in early July.

The UN secretary general told journalists in New York earlier this month that: “When the time is appropriate and conditions are ripe, as I said many times, I’m ready to visit Myanmar. I’m working on that now.”

The NLD spokesperson, Nyan Win said, “We always welcome any movement by the UN, and we still hope for something positive to come out it.”

Aye Thar Aung, the Rangoon-based Arakanese politician who is chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, said he did not think Gambari’s trip would have much success, though he was preparing for a visit by Ban.

He said that a political heavyweight like the UN secretary general could play a useful role in pushing the Burmese regime towards national reconciliation in Burma.

“Ban Ki-moon should come to Burma anyway to discuss the situation in person with the Burmese generals,” said Aye Thar Aung, commenting that it was important that Ban saw the situation first-hand.

irrawaddy