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Burmese Respond to News of Gambari's Departure

By ARKAR MOE Thursday, December 3, 2009
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Burmese opposition leaders are awaiting the appointment of a new UN special envoy to Burma to replace outgoing envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who has been appointed a special representative to work on the Darfur issue.

Gambari will become the head a  joint peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region on Jan. 1, the UN announced on Wednesday.

UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari speaks to the Japanese foreign minister in Tokyo during a visit in February 2009. (Photo: Getty Images)

The UN secretary-general informed the Security Council of his intention following consultations with the chairperson of the African Union Commission to appoint Gambari a joint special representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, said the deputy spokesperson for the secretary-general

Ashin Issariya, one of the leaders of the All Burma Monks Alliance, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday: “I did not see any significant successful results by Mr. Gambari.  Actually, the UN  seems  to have little real power to affect the Burmese military junta. The junta has  committed many human rights abuses and crimes, but, the UN failed to take effective action."

Ashin Issariya said he hoped the next envoy would be "good and skillful."

"He should know and understand Burmese affairs and issues.“ he said.

Gambari, who made repeated trips to Burma in his capacity as special envoy, was not able to convince the military junta to take steps toward the restoration of democracy or to promote human rights.

Khin Maung Swe, a member of central executive committee of the National League for Democracy,  said on Thursday: “I don’t know how the UN sees Mr. Gambari. But it is true that he was not an effective UN special envoy if we compare him to Mr. Quintana (the UN special reporteur on human rights in Burma)."

“I want to get an effective UN representative who is non- biased and well-prepared on Burmese issues. Moreover, he must dare to speak openly and bravely,” he said.

Thakin Chan Tun, a retired Burmese ambassador and a political veteran, told The Irrawaddy: “Although Mr. Gambari was a UN special envoy, he could not manage to kick-off direct talks between  Snr-Gen Than Shwe  and Aung San Suu Kyi, so we cannot call him a successful envoy.”    

Gambari  was frequently denied meetings with senior Burmese generals, including  junta leader  Snr-Gen Than Shwe. On one trip even Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi refused to meet with him.

However, people close to Gambari said he was handicapped by a non-constructive role played by several of the key players in the region, and his UN mandate did not gave him enough leverage to negotiate with the Burmese leadership.

Gambari succeeded UN Special Envoy for Burma Razali Ismail who resigned in 2004, declaring his mission was a failure.



COMMENTS (7)
 
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Ko Pauk Wrote:
08/12/2009
Whether you like it or not, the true matter is we the people of Burma including the military except Gen. Than Shwe and few other high ranking officials are all COWARDS, myself included.

All the people of Burma living abroad and shouting 'democracy & human rights, political change' are the chickens. You dare not to say these words inside the country.

We can't do anything ourselves, yet we criticize people who are doing it.

It is easy to say - not to rely on outsiders to get political change in Burma, or not to do this and that.

Than Shwe has been most successful. He succeeded in making more than 50 million people into chickens and obedient cowards.

ppphame Wrote:
07/12/2009
If UN envoys are not sweet like Gambari they will not come to myanmar several times. Gambari was very optimistic with the junta, that is why the junta welcomed him many times.

I think there will be no effective UN special envoy to Myanmar because junta will kick out the effective envoy whome they do not like to talk with. Actually, they do not care for UN envoys at all.

Jeff Wrote:
04/12/2009
Gambari's multiple visits to Burma were such a joke. It was more like he was visiting Myanmar for pleasure and acted as if he was going to do something about it, giving false hope for the Burmese people.

Nan Tal Wrote:
04/12/2009
Even the UN General Secretary (Ban Ki-Moon) left Burma with no success so how can one expect his envoy (Gambari) to have fruits in his effort? Unfortunately, Gambari is not the first or the only envoy who failed to have impact on the military thugs to transform the nation (Burma)from a military rule to a democratic country.

Even Nats and gods will fail on Burma unless the people of Burma are willing to take the lead to change their nation or the military is willing and ready to give up their power to embrace justice and peace for the nation.

KKK Wrote:
04/12/2009
He (Gambari) should declare his mission was a failure, too. What kind of people are managing the UN?

Most of these UN staffers are wasting international funds. They are just spending the money here and there. People should stop funding this corrupt organization. What did the UN accomplish for the Burmese people? Nothing.

MgMyanmar Wrote:
04/12/2009
Mr Gambari got a lot of Frequent Flyer points for his holidays by working as UN Special Envoy for Burma. Good on you, Mr Gambari.

Now your new job is closer to home. It is even better.

Myanmar Patriot 4 UMPF Wrote:
03/12/2009
Why is it our people always look up to outsiders - individuals as well as organisations - to sort out our problems? We need to think outside the box, independently, logically and courageously.

We need a round table. Gambari's replacement is not going to make any difference. UN is not the world government. Its usefulness is extremely limited. Remember who pays the piper calls the tune.

We are a million miles away from 'civil society';so we need strong runners to get to destination in the quickest possible time. Our political culture needs deep analysis before generating solutions. Our patron's message is this: in dealing with affairs of state, rulers must understand the complex connections between, history, culture, law, religious beliefs, interest groups, economics, technology - and external political environment. Failure to understand external environement and evolving world order is the major cause of failure to understand our internal political dynamic. There is a dearth of learned men. Sad.








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