UNSC Issues Presidential Statement on Burma

It is better to have something than nothing. Following this dictum, apparently, the United Nations Security Council on Friday passed a presidential statement urging the Burmese military government to make the May 10 referendum on the draft constitution "credible and inclusive."

However, the three advocates of the resolution—the US, France and Britain—not only had to climb down from their initial proposal about a month ago, but they also had to delete from it the portion of the presidential statement that demanded the release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.

This is the first time in recent years that a Security Council statement on Burma has not made reference to Suu Kyi, whom Time magazine recently listed as among the 100 most influential people in the world.

In a last ditch effort to persuade the 15-member council to approve the presidential statement, the three Western powers were forced to scrap the portion which urged the junta to "take tangible and timely steps towards a genuine dialogue."

This was, of course, done at the insistence of the veto-wielding China, which has been blocking passage of the resolution since it was first circulated among the Security Council members about a month ago.

However, the British ambassador, Sir John Sawers, who is the Security Council president for the month of May, noted the presidential statement has reaffirmed its previous statements and expectations on the situation in Burma.

"The Council had reaffirmed its statements of 11 October and 15 November 2007 and all the expectations expressed in those statements," he said at a press briefing, adding that the previous statements had made clear Suu Kyi should be released.

Sawers said that Friday’s statement made clear that the Burmese government should establish an atmosphere conducive to an inclusive and credible process, including the full participation of all political actors and respect for fundamental political freedoms.
At the same time, speaking in his capacity as British ambassador to the UN, Sawers argued that this clearly implied that Suu Kyi had to be released and play a full part in the political process in the country. 

With just a week left before the constitutional referendum, the British ambassador expressed his concern that the atmosphere in Burma is "severely constrained" and that "there has not been a proper debate" on the constitution. 

"Indeed, there are real limits and constraints on the people campaigning against the constitution that was being put forward," he said.

"Frankly, the conditions for a free and fair process are not yet in place. That is a real concern to my government," he argued.  As such, the British envoy stressed it is essential that Suu Kyi and all political actors and ethnic groups are allowed full participation in the political process without the constraints that are there now, and all fundamental political freedoms are respected.

US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters after the passage of the presidential statement that the Security Council would be watching the steps being taken by the Burmese junta.

Terming it as a good statement, which until a few days ago, had appeared deadlocked, Khalilzad reiterated the demand of the Security Council that the authorities in Burma create credible processes and allow for fundamental political freedoms to be exercised as they move towards the referendum on May 10 and elections in 2010. 

Encouraging the Burmese government and all parties concerned to cooperate fully with the UN, the Security Council reaffirmed its unwavering support for the secretary-general's good offices mission and appreciation of the work of his special envoy on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari.

Sawers said the Security Council welcomes the important role that the Asean members continue to play in this regard. The presidential statement also affirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Burma, "in that context reiterates the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people."

Meanwhile, the Burmese military junta on Friday accused the UN Security Council of directly interfering in the internal affairs of the country, which it alleged is under pressure from its powerful members.

Terming it as highly objectionable, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations Kyaw Tint Swe said this pressure is unprecedented.