UN man comes calling with Myanmar tightrope

UN man comes calling with Myanmar tightrope
As Myanmar General exits, UN envoy lands, says: help met get there

October 30, 2004 (Indian Express) - Around the time visiting Myanmar head of state Senior General Than Shwe set out on a tour of Buddhist pilgrim sites, another man deeply involved in Myanmar affairs was on a quiet trip to New Delhi: UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail, pleading the case of pro-democracy forces, was seeking Indian assistance to gain re-entry into the General’s land.

Razali has been a regular visitor to Yangon and his entry has never been blocked. But sources said that recent developments in Myanmar — before leaving for New Delhi, Than Shwe placed Prime Minister Khin Nyunt under house arrest, replacing him with another General — have caused concern in UN circles with officials not so sure about the kind of support they may now receive.

During his visit, Razali called on External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and National Security Advisor J N Dixit. He also met Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on Thursday.

Razali, a former Malaysian diplomat who was appointed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s special envoy to Myanmar, was keen on obtaining the Indian assessment of the situation in Yangon.

He also sought an update of Than Shwe’s views as Delhi was his first foreign visit after Khin Nyunt’s removal.

Given New Delhi’s improving ties with Yangon — Than Shwe did not defer his trip despite the political upheavals at home — Razali expressed the hope that India would influence Myanmar not to block his entry to Myanmar.

Razali was instrumental in starting reconciliation talks between Than Shwe’s military administration and Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.

The talks were later discontinued after Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest. Since then, the UN Special Envoy has been busy trying to garner support for Suu Kyi and applying pressure on Yangon to show some results before the ASEAN summit in 2006 when it assumes chairmanship.

It’s learnt that India pointed out to Razali that Myanmar is a neighbouring country and it was necessary to maintain healthy bilateral ties.

While emphasising that India remained committed to UN principles, sources said that New Delhi made it clear that its assessment on Myanmar was from the perspective of improving ties between the two neighbours.

It’s learnt that India did not part with much in the form of sharing specific assessments though Razali wanted to make his visits to India a monthly affair.

Sources pointed out that UN policy was not the same towards all military regimes and that restoration of democracy in Myanmar was also an objective that the administration in Yangon shared.

In fact, Than Shwe made it clear during his discussions here that his
administration had drawn a roadmap and was committed to eventual restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has assured that insurgent activities against India would not be allowed from its soil while the two countries agreed to take steps to prevent drug trafficking and arms smuggling.

In a joint statement, issued today at the end of Than Shwe’s visit, both sides agreed to boost bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2006.

The two countries agreed to take necessary steps to prevent cross border crimes and decided to substantially upgrade bilateral cooperation in this context. The two sides stated their firm determination to maintain peace, stability and tranquility along the 1400 km-long border. While Than Shwe has invited President A P J Abdul Kalam and the PM to visit Myanmar, India extended an invitation to the new Myanmar PM Lt Gen Soe Win to visit the country.

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