Ban Ki-moon's Speech in Bangkok
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By THE IRRAWADDY |
Monday, July 6, 2009
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UNITED NATIONS  NATIONS UNIES
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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REMARKS TO THE MEDIA
Bangkok, 4 July 2009
Good evening. Thank you for coming to meet me at this late hour of the day.
As you know, I have just come from a two-day visit to Myanmar. I met twice the Senior General Than Shwe, and I had discussions with other government officials.
I also met with leaders of Myanmar’s registered political parties and with those former armed groups that have chosen to observe a cease-fire.
This morning I also had time to visit Kyon Da Village in the Irrawaddy Delta to see the results of recovery and reconstruction work.
Let me first address my meetings with Senior General Than Shwe.
As you know by now, I asked to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
I am deeply disappointed that Senior General Than Shwe refused my request. Allowing a visit to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would have been an important symbol of the government’s willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement that will be essential if the elections in 2010 are to be seen as credible.
I believe the government of Myanmar failed to take a unique opportunity to show its commitment to a new era of political openness.
Nonetheless, my visit has enabled me to convey the concerns of the international community very frankly and directly to Senior General Than Shwe and his government.
My meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, however, should not be seen as the only benchmark for success or failure of my visit. Because I believe that there are many more fundamental issues which we addressed, during the visit, which [will] help move Myanmar forward.
The members of the international community wanted me to tell Myanmar’s leaders that the international community stands ready to help the people of Myanmar achieve their legitimate aspirations.
This is why I went to Myanmar, and this is what we did.
I told Senior General Than Shwe that the international community wants to help Myanmar to achieve democracy, national reconciliation, durable peace and sustainable development.
And I emphasized that neither peace nor development can thrive without democracy and respect for human rights.
I outlined my proposals for progress.
I told Senior General Than Shwe that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners should be released without delay and allowed to participate freely in the political process.
I said I wanted to see resumption of substantive and time-bound dialogue between the government and Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy at the higher level of engagement.
I set out detailed criteria for a conducive environment for free and fair elections in 2010. Only then will the elections be seen as credible and legitimate.
I have urged them to publish as soon as possible the electoral law and establish an electoral commission and set a date or month for the election in 2010. I discussed the establishment of a broad-based national economic forum to address Myanmar’s development needs.
I also discussed the practical issues related to humanitarian assistance, especially the swift issuance of visas.
I discussed, as well, the expansion of humanitarian assistance beyond the Delta area.
These are all areas where I expect the Myanmar government to demonstrate progress in the very near future.
Finally, before I left for the airport, I spoke to an audience of Myanmar senior government officials, diplomats, local and international non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies. It was a huge gathering. I delivered a wide-ranging speech setting out my messages for Myanmar – on national reconciliation, human rights and democracy, on humanitarian assistance and on economic progress.
Today, before I came here, I had a meeting with the Prime Minster of Thailand and I briefed my visit to Myanmar, and I’m going to continue to engage with the members of the group of friends on Myanmar. My special adviser Mr. Gambari, upon his return to New York, is going to convene the group of friends on Myanmar and brief the members there that we will continue to follow up with the Myanmar authorities on the progress of the issues which I have discussed with the Myanmar authorities.
I again thank you for your attention and will welcome a few questions.
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 COMMENTS (8)
Moe Aung Wrote: |
08/07/2009 |
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Predictable is the only word to describe the junta's response. Who shut the door? Who have isolated themselves? How many envoys must come knocking on the door? Who, after all, have painted themselves into a corner?
Reconciliation continues to be defined as capitulation, and democracy redefined as military rule in the generals' book. It's going to take a battering ram of unified and effective mass action. They belong to the dustbin of history and the sooner the better. |
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tluangsalai Wrote: |
08/07/2009 |
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Burma has been in constitutional crisis and ethnic conflict since independence in 1948.
Ban Ki-moon should have tried to meet Burmese ethnic leaders
Until and unless the ethnic minorities like the Kachin, Karen ,Kaya ,Kayin, Chin , Mon, Arakhan , Shan, etc, get equality and justice, Burma problems will not be solved even if the country does become democratic.
TLUANG SALAI
California
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Steven Baldesco Wrote: |
07/07/2009 |
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I thank Mr. Ban Ki Moon for his determination, but he must pressure the generals harder, in order for him and the UN not to be humiliated in the eyes of individuals and Burma-related organizations and thought of as being very soft on the junta.
I did not want to see Mr. Ban, the powerful UN chief, fail like his envoy, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, but alas his visit to the country and his failure to meet Daw Suu left Burma unchanged.
Gen. Than Shwe's actions of prohibiting Mr. Ban and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from meeting and talking is proof that he'll do everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, to silence Daw Suu and keep her indefinitely behind bars. |
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SY Alam Wrote: |
07/07/2009 |
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Ban Ki-moon is a good man. Mr.Shwe & hte generals are sick.They will never listen to good people. We will see what the UN can do for Myanmar. I think being good to bad people is not good.
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MgMyanmar Wrote: |
07/07/2009 |
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"Constructive way"
I think the UNSG meant that the NLD should participate in 2010 election, which is in his view would be constructive. It might be called the Ban-Gambari(Burmese) Way to Democracy.
Mr Ban Ki-moon, as well as Gambari, should admit the failure of his good offices and urge the UNSC to take further action.
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Christian Thomas Kohl Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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The visit of Ban Ki-moon is very important to Myanmar. Why?
Because today in 2009 the world is looking to Myanmar. This is not 1998. The world has changed. Today the government of Myanmar is being watched. Today the government of Myanmar can only discriminate against a whole people in public, not in secret. That is the difference. We will not forget Myanmar as we have done in the past.
Thomas Christian Kohl |
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Khin Maung Phyu III Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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The General Secretary has a good ideological intention in his approach, which may not be understood or appreciated by the generals in Burma. He has tried his best from his position.
However, as the old Burmese saying, it is just like playing a harp near the water buffalo. The only hope for Burma at the moment is that the younger generation in the leadership of the armed forces will realize that their real duty is to the people and the country, and not to the gnorant, selfish and corrupt old generals, who are acting like they are gods.
Khin Maung Phyu III
Florida, USA |
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Meng Vanna Wrote: |
06/07/2009 |
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From the UNSG's reply to the reporters' questions in Bangkok, I could see his visit to Myanmar was a successful diplomatic mission.
1.He has delivered the message of the UN and the international community to Myanmar's government.
2.The refusal to his request to see DASSK has shown that the junta has no intention to ease their hardline attitude - to resolve the internal political deadlock , or to show willingness to cooperate with the international community.
It was a diplomatic test from the UNSG, which the junta failed to recognize out of arrogance. If DASSK was allowed to be seen by local diplomats recently, why not by the top diplomat of the world? It was a big diplomatic blunder.
It looks like Gen.Than Shwe is the only one calling the shots, and no one else amongst the ruling generals is deciding important issues for the nation.
I hope the ruling generals will ponder over the UNSG's message collectively, sensibly and bravely. |
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