Ban Ki Moon’s Burma Visit Welcome – But Must Deliver Concrete Results

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed news that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is finally going to visit Burma again, but called for concrete results, not just more talks about talks. Ban Ki Moon is expected to visit Burma on the 3rd and 4th of July.

“We have had 20 years of UN envoys going back and forth to Burma and nothing to show for it,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK.  “We need Ban Ki Moon to personally take the lead, but he must deliver practical results, such as the release of all political prisoners. Talking to the generals is a means to an end, but so far the UN seems to treat talks alone as a success. Ban Ki Moon must deliver the strongest possible message to Than Shwe that they can no longer defy the Security Council.”

Ban Ki Moon visited Burma after Cyclone Nargis struck Burma in May 2008. The generals had refused to allow international and local people to deliver aid to victims of the cyclone. Ban Ki Moon did secure an agreement for much more access, showing high level engagement and strong pressure does influence the regime, despite claims by some that the regime is immune to pressure.

There have been 40 UN envoy visits to Burma, including 8 by Ibrahim Gambari, who visited over the weekend. Since Ibrahim Gambari took over as envoy in 2006 there has been a dramatic escalation in human rights abuses, a doubling of the number of political prisoners, and the regime has defied the United Nations by pushing ahead with its so called roadmap to democracy, rather than entering into tri-partite dialogue as demanded by the UN.

“This visit will be a critical moment, showing whether or not the regime will respond to diplomatic pressure, or will have to be forced to change,” said Zoya Phan.

For more information contact Zoya Phan on 020 7324 4710

Email this article

Related news

• One Year on from Suu Kyi Sentencing – A Year of Inaction by UN
• Words Must Be Turned Into Action For Aung San Suu Kyi
• British MPs Call For UN Action On Burma
• Aung San Suu Kyi’s 65th Birthday Celebrated In Over 22 Cities Worldwide
• NLD Leader U Win Tin Video Message For Aung San Suu Kyi
• UN Declares Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s Detention Illegal;
• Exiles stage defiant protest at London embassy to mark Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday
• NLD Statement: “A Message to the People of Burma”
• NLD Reject Burma Elections – UN Must Restart Dialogue Efforts
• Aung San Suu Kyi Election Ban Final Nail In Coffin For Burma ‘Elections’