About 150 activists shout slogan during a protest outside the Singapore Embassy
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday. [Photo AP]
Regime Critics Dismiss Talks with Suu Kyi as a “Ploy”
By Saw Yan Naing November 20, 2007
A meeting on Monday between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta’s minister of liaison, Aung Kyi—their third since the retired general’s appointment—has been dismissed by regime critics as a government ploy to deflect attention from the Asean summit in Singapore.
Burma is coming under pressure at the summit, which is being attended by Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein.
Burma expert Aung Naing Oo told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the meeting had clearly been set up to give Asean the impression that the regime was moving toward reconciliation with its opponents. The ploy didn’t fool the people of Burma, however, said Aung Naing Oo—adding that the brutal suppression of the September demonstrations had shown the true face of the regime.
The one-hour meeting between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi took place at the government guest house where she was taken for earlier talks with the minister and with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
No details of the meeting were given in reports carried by the government media.
Aung Kyi met Suu Kyi for the first time on October 25 and again on November 9. She was also allowed to meet National League for Democracy colleagues for the first time in more than three years.
A meeting on Monday between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta’s minister of liaison, Aung Kyi—their third since the retired general’s appointment—has been dismissed by regime critics as a government ploy to deflect attention from the Asean summit in Singapore.
Burma is coming under pressure at the summit, which is being attended by Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein.
Burma expert Aung Naing Oo told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the meeting had clearly been set up to give Asean the impression that the regime was moving toward reconciliation with its opponents. The ploy didn’t fool the people of Burma, however, said Aung Naing Oo—adding that the brutal suppression of the September demonstrations had shown the true face of the regime.
The one-hour meeting between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi took place at the government guest house where she was taken for earlier talks with the minister and with UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
No details of the meeting were given in reports carried by the government media.
Aung Kyi met Suu Kyi for the first time on October 25 and again on November 9. She was also allowed to meet National League for Democracy colleagues for the first time in more than three years.
Gambari to Meet with Asian Leaders despite Canceled Address before Annual Summit
By Vijay Joshi/AP Writer/Singapore November 20, 2007
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's address on Burma to Asian leaders was canceled abruptly, but his trip to Singapore was salvaged Tuesday by holding private meetings to brief the leaders on his negotiations with the junta.
The envoy—whose planned address on Wednesday was shelved while he was en route from New York—was mobbed by reporters eager for his comments on the diplomatic muck-up when he arrived.
He declined comment before he started a slew of meetings with leaders and foreign ministers of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and New Zealand. They are here to attend a summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six Asia-Pacific countries on Wednesday.
Asean secretary-general ong Keng Yong said the bloc hadn't bowed to Burma by canceling Gambari's briefing.
"We live to fight another day. We don't want to come across as being too confrontational in a situation like this," ong told reporters. "What is important is that we want to focus on our summit ... we don't want it to be a big distraction," he said.
Burma has dominated deliberations at this week's meetings of Asean, which is under tremendous pressure to take a harder line on Burma's junta and force it to allow democracy.
Gambari began pushing Burma's junta to restart political reconciliation with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in September that left at least 15 people dead.
Gambari was scheduled to meet with Philippine President Arroyo Macapagal Arroyo later Tuesday, and Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand on Wednesday.
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongram also was to meet with Gambari later Tuesday, as well as Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.
"It's useful for us to know his efforts in bringing about the parties together for a successful reconciliation and democracy in Myanmar [Burma]," Syed Hamid told the AP.
Gambari was invited by host Singapore to address the summit but it became clear by Monday afternoon that the invitation had turned into a diplomatic faux pas.
Several leaders, including those of Malaysia and Indonesia, supported Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein's view that Gambari's visit amounted to interfering with Burma's internal affairs.
"That's a domestic issue, no need to raise in the EAS," Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win said in brief comments before his guards pushed away a phalanx of reporters.
Despite canceling Gambari's address, Asean countries urged Burma's junta to open a "meaningful dialogue" with Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, release her from house arrest, free political detainees and work toward a "peaceful transition to democracy."
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari's address on Burma to Asian leaders was canceled abruptly, but his trip to Singapore was salvaged Tuesday by holding private meetings to brief the leaders on his negotiations with the junta.
The envoy—whose planned address on Wednesday was shelved while he was en route from New York—was mobbed by reporters eager for his comments on the diplomatic muck-up when he arrived.
He declined comment before he started a slew of meetings with leaders and foreign ministers of Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and New Zealand. They are here to attend a summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six Asia-Pacific countries on Wednesday.
Asean secretary-general ong Keng Yong said the bloc hadn't bowed to Burma by canceling Gambari's briefing.
"We live to fight another day. We don't want to come across as being too confrontational in a situation like this," ong told reporters. "What is important is that we want to focus on our summit ... we don't want it to be a big distraction," he said.
Burma has dominated deliberations at this week's meetings of Asean, which is under tremendous pressure to take a harder line on Burma's junta and force it to allow democracy.
Gambari began pushing Burma's junta to restart political reconciliation with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in September that left at least 15 people dead.
Gambari was scheduled to meet with Philippine President Arroyo Macapagal Arroyo later Tuesday, and Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand on Wednesday.
Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongram also was to meet with Gambari later Tuesday, as well as Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.
"It's useful for us to know his efforts in bringing about the parties together for a successful reconciliation and democracy in Myanmar [Burma]," Syed Hamid told the AP.
Gambari was invited by host Singapore to address the summit but it became clear by Monday afternoon that the invitation had turned into a diplomatic faux pas.
Several leaders, including those of Malaysia and Indonesia, supported Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein's view that Gambari's visit amounted to interfering with Burma's internal affairs.
"That's a domestic issue, no need to raise in the EAS," Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win said in brief comments before his guards pushed away a phalanx of reporters.
Despite canceling Gambari's address, Asean countries urged Burma's junta to open a "meaningful dialogue" with Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, release her from house arrest, free political detainees and work toward a "peaceful transition to democracy."
EU and US Discuss Burma Policy Coordination
By The Associated Press November 20, 2007
The European Union's envoy to Burma discussed with US officials on Monday how to coordinate pressure on the ruling junta for political reform.
Piero Fassino's meetings in Washington came as EU foreign ministers approved implementation of new European sanctions against Burma.
Following a meeting with US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey, Fassino said the EU and the United States agree on how to handle Burma, whose military-ruled government used troops and police to crush peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in late September, killing at least 15 people.
"We have the same views on the isolation of the Burmese junta, right now," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "There is a common assessment that the central objective of the strategy must be to favor the dialogue among the various actors in Burma and of their reconciliation."
Fassino said he detailed the EU's sanction plans in his meetings. The new measures include banning imports of timber, gemstones and precious metals from Burma. The new sanctions come on top of an existing travel ban on Burmese officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of Burmese assets in Europe.
The EU also is considering more sanctions, including a ban on the use of European-based banking services to members of the junta.
Fassino said he would ask members of Asean at their Singapore summit to isolate Burma.
The European Union's envoy to Burma discussed with US officials on Monday how to coordinate pressure on the ruling junta for political reform.
Piero Fassino's meetings in Washington came as EU foreign ministers approved implementation of new European sanctions against Burma.
Following a meeting with US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Deputy National Security Adviser James Jeffrey, Fassino said the EU and the United States agree on how to handle Burma, whose military-ruled government used troops and police to crush peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in late September, killing at least 15 people.
"We have the same views on the isolation of the Burmese junta, right now," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "There is a common assessment that the central objective of the strategy must be to favor the dialogue among the various actors in Burma and of their reconciliation."
Fassino said he detailed the EU's sanction plans in his meetings. The new measures include banning imports of timber, gemstones and precious metals from Burma. The new sanctions come on top of an existing travel ban on Burmese officials, an arms embargo and a freeze of Burmese assets in Europe.
The EU also is considering more sanctions, including a ban on the use of European-based banking services to members of the junta.
Fassino said he would ask members of Asean at their Singapore summit to isolate Burma.
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