Thai FMinister discusses Myanmar's political deadlock with UN

Thai Foreign Minister discusses Myanmar's political deadlock with UN

Oct 5 (Thai News Service) - Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai on Friday met with the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to discuss political deadlock in Myanmar, as the country's opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under a house arrest despite intensified efforts to free her.

Mr. Razali Ismail, the UN special envoy, has not been allowed back into Myanmar since his last visit in March. His requests for visa have been reportedly turned down repeatedly.

''Mr. Surakiart and the UN secretary general discussed the problems regarding Myanmar as the UN special envoy has been denied visa to
Myanmar to do his job as a peace broker between the Myanmar military regime and the opposition,'' said Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman.

In August, Mr. Annan and the US government called for Rangoon to
release the detained leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who has been under a house arrest for more than a year.

''But if we look at a general picture, there is a progress made in Myanmar. The government is in the process of drawing a ''roadmap'' for democracy and there will be a convention coming up. The most important thing is to make sure Myanmar does what it says even though a lot of people might have been disappointed that Aung San Suu Kyi has not been released, '' said Sihasak.

However, without Aung San Suu Kyi being released, the NLD is refusing to take part in the political process with the military junta.

Mr. Sihasak said the Thai foreign minister has also urged all countries
to support the UN's role in trying to build a political reconciliation in Myanmar.

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