UN Chief to Hold ‘Friends of Burma’ Meeting
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By
LALIT K JHA
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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WASHINGTON — United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will convene a meeting of the Group of Friends on Burma on Wednesday to review the world body’s policy on the military-ruled country.
Formed in December 2007, the Group of Friends consists of Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Britain, the US and Vietnam, as well as the country holding the presidency of the European Union.
Ban is expected to brief UN ambassadors from these countries on his recent trip to Burma and the latest developments in the country, including the ongoing trial of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest.
Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy to Burma, is also expected to brief the group. During the meeting, Ban will seek advice from members of the group on how the world body can move forward in its efforts to help resolve Burma’s longstanding political stalemate and other issues.
Meanwhile, in yet another effort to show the world that they are united against the military regime, pro-democracy organizations from both inside and outside of Burma have decided to form a common platform and launch a transition plan.
The plan, known as the “Proposal for National Reconciliation,” will be formalized at a two-day meeting in Jakarta on August 12-13.
“This is history being made,” said Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), the Burmese government in exile, speaking on behalf of all the groups involved.
“The last time all major ethnic and pro-democracy organizations have forged a common position was in 1947 when all forces agreed to seek independence from the British,” he said. “As such, this is the first time an indigenous coalition has agreed to work together against a homegrown power.”
Sein Win said the alliance, known as the Movement for Democracy and Rights for Ethnic Nationalities, believes the proposal provides a means by which Burma can move through a phase of democratic reform without upheaval and recrimination.
The proposal envisages opening a process of dialogue with the junta, effectively offering a sustainable exit strategy for the military rulers. While it acknowledges a place for a functioning military, it presents a democratic future in rooted in civilian, not military, rule, said Sein Win.
 COMMENTS (6)
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Susan Fairclough,
There is 2 main issues involved.
1)SPDC intransigency
2)UN comprehensive approach.
1)SPDC intransigency: Res Ipsa Loquitur.
2) UN comprehensive approach: Oxymoron.
Toeing the favorite line du jour.
Enough article/comments written especially from Norway yet every time BKM come/go to Burma all he has to say is DASSK.
The UN is supposed to be a bridge to end conflicts and provide humanitarian aid apolitically. Do you see that happening?
Where do you see that the UN need China, Russia approval to bridge differences?
That is the job of the Secretary General.
U Thant showed us the virtue of "no comment" while reporting quietly each side's view.
BKM just toes the line of all those "DASSK first to Hades with the rest."
All this time S Korea is doing well. He could at least recluse himself for obvious conflict of interest. Now the cousins are in the restaurant Burma as well.
Humanitarian aid? Google World Vision. |
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susanfairclough Wrote: |
09/08/2009 |
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| In response to 'plan b' below - this is exactly what a 'friends group' is meant to be. Not a group of friends of the country, but a group of friends of the secretary-general in dealing with the country, with a mix of countries with maximum influence on both sides (e.g. China and Russia, etc on the SDPC and the US and others as supporters of the opposition). The only way would be for the group NOT to include any of these countries, but instead just include a few 'neutral' countries - as you suggest, maybe Norway, Indonesia, etc., and leave the rest out. But then you don't have the influence you'd have by including China, the US, etc. |
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"Formed in December 2007, the Group of Friends consists of Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Britain, the US and Vietnam, as well as the country holding the presidency of the European Union."
Other than Norway, Burma is doomed to have these countries defined by UN as friends of Burma.
More correctly, China, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, India should be called "Friends of the SPDC."
All other countries except Norway, Vietnam and Indonesia should be labeled "Friends of DASSK only."
It is not that far-fetched to say, then, that these "FODO" countries are no friend of the Burmese people. |
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Yangontha Wrote: |
05/08/2009 |
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To Mr. Moon,
Is this "Group of Friends on Burma" meeting about to deliver Than Shwe's demands to the world OR is it about your new term contract? |
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One thing which we would like to suggest is that for the people in Burma, who are now extremely poor, the UN could request 20 percent of benefits from China and other countries that are interested to deal with junta for investment, because the resources are owned by the people. But though these resources are diverted to foreign countries by the selfish illwilled junta towards their own people make them starved but make foreign countries rich. The UN would be able to help by asking for some percentage of the their benefits for the people of Myanmar.
People in Burma are very poor because of mismanagement by the ill-willed junta, which UN should have a role to balance as a moderator. The Burmese government does not use 2 percent for education and health. People can not find the money for basic amenities. Students can not read and study for lack of electricity. This problem has been there for 10 years.
Legitimacy of an elected government is the only hope for Burma. |
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Mr. Ban,
It is good to ask their opinions. But China and Russia will be against the others as usual. Therefore, it is necessary to anticipate a refusal by them.
Than Shwe et al are not smart and malicious to frame Daw ASSK like this. It is necessary to look into who is behind it. All these gave an impression that China and Singapore are the master minds.
Russia might help with nuclear technology but does not seem to involve this malicious work against Daw ASSK and that based on their greed to use incompetent, egocentric the junta make innocent people and Daw ASSK suffer.
We are quite confident that China is teh master mind of Junta and there must be a tie between China and US.
It is necessary not to let these countries to use Daw ASSK.China is no doubt interested in Myanmar economically but politically.It would be able to continue with investment whichever Mynamar government comes .If you can high light this to China, they wouldn't hesitate to correct Junta. |
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