Ban Ki-moon's Speech
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By THE IRRAWADDY |
Saturday, July 4, 2009
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U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S THE SECRETARY-GENERAL REMARKS ON MYANMAR TO DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS, UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Yangon, 4 July 2009 Excellencies,
Distinguished guests and colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen, This is my second visit to Myanmar in just over a year. Both visits have been at critical times for the country’s future. My first visit was in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. This devastating natural disaster, which took so many lives and created so much hardship, touched hearts across the globe. In Myanmar’s moment of need, the world responded generously. I want to personally thank everyone here today for your remarkable contributions to the relief and recovery effort. You have saved lives, rejuvenated communities and made it possible for many thousands of people to reclaim their livelihoods. You have helped Myanmar to overcome adversity. It is important that this work continues.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I felt the tragedy of Cyclone Nargis deeply -- as a fellow Asian and as Secretary-General . I am Asia’s second Secretary-General. The first was Myanmar's U Thant. I revere his memory. I also recall his wise words. U Thant said: “The worth of the individual human being is the most unique and precious of all our assets and must be the beginning and end of all our efforts. Governments, systems, ideologies and institutions come and go, but humanity remains.” This is why I have returned.
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 COMMENTS (21)
Henry Tun, Sydney Australia (p Wrote: |
08/07/2009 |
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It is now very clear that the brutal military regime in Burma does not care about the UN or the UN Secretary General as long as states like Russia and China back them up with vetoes at the UNSC.
The economic sanctions imposed by the western countries have no effect on the regime except to make the poor people more impoverished and making the regime’s illegal expenses more untraceable.
As the ridiculously one-sided constitution has already been forcibly drawn, the only thing the UN could do right now is to try and pass a resolution in the UNSC to have an international electoral commission supervise and oversee the election when it is held in 2010.
Written by: Aussiemg |
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Moe Aung Wrote: |
08/07/2009 |
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Lay Lay:
"The prospects for the ordinary Burmese people are hopeless for the next 100 years"
Go wash your mouth out. What a cheerless doom-monger! You are nonetheless still welcome to the new Burma; you won't be made to wait 100 years, I can assure you.
"Ban & the whole world think Than Shwe & the top 100 Generals are working hard for bright future of Burma."
The world knows but bides its time. There are limits to diplomacy.
"They have no interest to develop Burma & improve the daily lives of ordinary Burmese people."
They do up to a point, my cynical friend.
"The dishonesty and morality of the Burmese people is at an all-time low."
You are overdoing your cynicism here again, and this particular denunciation is not the first time from you either. Please be fair. Don't go all holier than thou on people. Honesty and morality are luxuries many Burmese can ill afford these days. So don't be too eager to be the first to throw the first stone on the long-suffering Burmese. |
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Moe Aung Wrote: |
08/07/2009 |
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"Nonetheless, the primary responsibility lies with the Government to move the country towards its stated goals of national reconciliation and democracy."
Sadly they wouldn't recognize 'noblesse oblige' if it hit them in the eye, not to mention the traditional 'Ten Principles of Monarchs'. Power to them means the way to riches at the expense of an entire nation. Power is not to honor the responsibility for the greater good, but the right to abuse it however they wish.
SY Alam: "Do not wait for Ban Ki-moon to come back to save the Burmese...Do not wait for Suu Kyi either. The Burmese have to do this for themselves."
Oparlay: "He has done what he could, the rest is to be settled between the opposition, the regime and the Burmese people."
Couldn't agree more.
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Frank Oo Wrote: |
07/07/2009 |
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| All we need do is to eliminate 5 generals to save 50 millions of people of Burma. The generals do not understand and don't want to understand Human language. Are we going to live like this another 500 years? We need 50 heroes around these generals to eliminate them. Be pragmatic. Ban Ki Moon has spoken in plain human language. |
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SY Alam Wrote: |
07/07/2009 |
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| Ban Ki-Moon said Than Shwe listened until the end of their meeting.That is all the UNSG can do for Myanmar. Now the Burmese must liberate their own from the tyrants. It is the responsibility of the Burmese. Do not wait for Ban Ki-moon to come back to save the Burmese from Than Shwe and his generadl. Do not wait for Suu Kyi either. The Burmese have to do this for themselves. |
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Pamela WolfSong Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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| Please re-think what you are doing. Please respect human rights. The world is watching. |
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Oparlay Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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| I am sure many people are frustrated with Ban Ki Moon's achievements, but people should understand to what extent he get things done in politics. Without knowing this people should not be blaming him. He has done what he could, the rest is to be settled between the opposition, the regime and the Burmese people. One cannot complain to the UN about something which they cannot do. It is so funny reading these unrealistic complaints. The UN is not a police station. |
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Lay Lay Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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The prospects for the ordinary Burmese people are hopeless for the next 100 years:
1) Dishonesty & moral values are at an all-time low.
2) There is no chance to form organizations like Gen Aung San's student union or BIA.
3) The Burmes Army is poorly trained. They cannot protect themselves from Thai or Bangaladeshi troops, but they know very well how to kill & control un-armed students, civilians & monks.
4) No outside government is interested inhelping financially or with weapons and training to give power to the people.
5) Young Army officers could help the people regain power, but Than Shwe would systematically arrest them & their families.
6) There is no organization that could start simultaneous protests in 1000 places in Burma involving 10 million people.( people power)
7) When Tan Shwe dies, the next General will be 100 times worse because Ne Win trained Than Shwe to be 100 times worse than him. |
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Lay Lay Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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Ban & the whole world think Than Shwe & the top 100 Generals are working hard for bright future of Burma.
The truth is that :
Than Shwe's 100 generals are working
1) to see how many more years they can hold their present position
2) How many more millions they can be richer by
They have no interest to develop Burma & improve the daily lives of ordinary Burmese people.
They have no intention of improving the education system, employment opportunities, food supplies, healthcare services and all the other things Ban mentioned in his speech.
Most people in Burma do not even have electricity in thier homes every day!
If Daw Suu takes part in free and fair elections in 2010, she will get 75 percent of the votes. Than Shwe's 100 Generals would not be able to live like they do today. Every Burmese can see how they live in big houses and drive cars worth a million times more than their salary.
And the result?
The dishonesty and morality of the Burmese people is at an all-time low. |
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George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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U Thant said “The worth of the individual human being is the most unique and precious of all our assets and must be the beginning and end of all our efforts. Governments, systems, ideologies and institutions come and go, but humanity remains”.
Ban Ki-moon played the role of monkey again and came back empty handed.
Than Shwe said loud and clear he has nothing for UN nor its chief and he would press ahead with his agenda - eternal military rule in Burma - via his farcical 2010 elections.
Daw Suu and Burma will remain in chains as long as the Big Five wield vetos in the UNSC.
The newly formed unholy alliance with North Korea has confirmed Burma's place under China's guardianship despite the fact the South Korean risked his and UN's credibility by shaking hands with the monk murderer.
Hence, Ban Ki-moon should quit for failing to do his job out of respect for himself and UN as well.
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All these precious words will fall on the deaf ears of the Junta.
Than Shwe has no centre in the brain ( temporo-parietal-occipital junction) to perform abstract thinking.
The p[eople of Myanmar are unfortunate to be like the blind being lead by blind. But worst is that we are living in the same world and disturbing other countries.
I don't think Ban will bring any benefit any for demorcracy.
The mindset of people in the world including leaders of the countries is so egocentric that the Junta will just do the worst unless they re destroyed by nuclear weapons.
We don't know how many are continuing to suffer. Even if Than Shwe dies the junta will remain.
It is the destiny of Myanmar people. We don't know how long will it take. It might be more than 100 years. |
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timothy Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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| UN chief must be very upset with the reply of Than Shwe in regard to seeing Daw Su. Now he is sure that Than Shwe has no interest in democracy of Burma at all. He let the cyclone victims suffer to the extent that he jailed Burmese citizens who went to the delta region on their own to help the victims with aid. Mr Ban should report his finding to the general assembly and urge the Security Council to take meaningful action against Than Shwe`s regime. They need to be punished for gross human rights abuse. Mr Ban should explain his findings to the Chinese and Russian governments. If they say that it is a Burmese internal problem that needs no external intervention, they should be named and shamed in international circles for assisting the brutal regimes of Burma. We do not need to consider their veto power anymore. |
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BG Aung Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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The UNSG's parting message to the Diplomatic Missions, Agencies and NGOs in Yangon is a warning to all people of Myanmar (generals and common people). He avoided saying this to Gen.Than Shwe and risk the junta chief going into seizures due the painful truths. As a Burmese and head of the de facto government, Gen. Than Shwe should listen and ponder over it in solitary silence to get enlightened on the fate of Myanmar.
The UNSG's three messages are those of a learned statesman representing the world's highest organization. Generals can give any order they like to their army, and their hostages (the people), but they should respect the words of world leaders like Mr.Ban Ki-moon who visit here as a state guest. He came on a mission to help Burma. His words should be taken with due respect, and his presence treated likewise. All our generals were seen sitting with long faces (even the staffers) except FM Nyan Win acting as laison. |
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Aung M.O. Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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| Shall we give Mr Ban Ki Moon a good round of applause for this touching message? Even though he holds the post of UNSG, he is as pwerless as any UNSG in the world of real politics. We really admire his immense desire to work for humanity in this case,especially as he refers to U Thant. If the SPDC understands the message in this diplomatic language and what humanity is all about, they would be weeping rather than laughing at Mr Ban's failure to meet DASSK. It is to be noted that nothing is infallible in this world - what goes up has to come down, no matter what. |
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Kyaw Win ( BMA UK ) Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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We appreciate such eloquent speech, but we are desperate to secure our human rights and values.
The current situation in Myanmar is really disastrous. There is no food, no healthcare and no law. We are totally disappointed with the action which the action taken by the world community. It is not time for talk. A waste of times means a waste of life in Myanmar.
How many more people must die before we take action to remove such a cruel and ferocious Dictator.
Please save our lives! Please! |
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Y.H.Lam Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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| Mr. Ban has done his part as the honourable Secretary General of the United Nations. He has done what he can, vested in his power as the Sec Gen. Now, the ball is at the hands of the Burmese Government, the people of Burma, living in their land or on foreign soil, to achieve their own dream. The Burmese must help themselves and do something for themselves before others can help and assist them. Stop blaming others for not achieving your goals. Blaming Mr. Ban and others will not help you, but will just let the whole world you see how vulnerable you are, how dependent you are upon others, rather than doing thing for yourselves and standing up on your very own two feet. Stand up! Fight for your rights, organise things well before taking action. Just demostrating here and there goes nowhere! Thank you. |
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"I believe the government of Myanmar has lost a unique opportunity to show its commitment to a new era of political openness."
I like this quote. This is a perfect open expression towards the junta, made by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Mon. |
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Maung27 Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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| Unfortunately Mr. Ban Ki-moon has now proved his absolute inability to comprehend the current situation in Myanmar. By his visit, his demands and his final speech he has made things even worse - without the slightest effort to understand the military he only pressed them for impossible concessions, thus strengthening their belief that they are surrounded by enemies. It will surely result in an increase of pressure on Myanmar and create new socio-economic problems for ordinary people in this beautiful country. Ban forgot that diplomacy means dialogue and taking into consideration the situation of the partner in dialogue. I sincerely hope that Russia and China will stand on the Myanmar side and support its efforts to build a modern and democratic state according to Myanmar's traditions and customs. As usual Western involvement only spoils everything, as it did in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
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Aung Aung Wrote: |
05/07/2009 |
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Than Shwe is a paper tiger. If his own people, Burmese people, say something like this he just put them in a jail. Now, he is hiding with his thugs at the jungle bunker built by N-Korea. He should be hang himself with shame after hearing what Mr. Ban pointed out in his brilliant speech given at the center of Rangoon. It described truly Burma’s terrible situation created purposely and foolishly by Than Shwe and his groups.
At this critical moment each and every nationalistic person including young army personel should strike to gain a democratic Burma so that we are able to live in dignity, free from fear, and respected by the international community.
Burma should be changed without delay under the leadership of DASSK!
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BULLSHIT !
Burmese youths ! we need a new army like a BIA, or we are done for good
thanks
martin |
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How frustrating? I just wish those idiots in Naypyidaw half-understand the underlying message in UNSG's speech.
The whole world is watching you Gen TS and you are digging your own grave! |
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