Wednesday, November 7, 2007


The Burmese military government has told the National League for Democracy
that three central executive committee members can meet with UN Special Envoy
Ibrahim Gambari on Thursday in Naypyidaw, according to the NLD.
This handout picture provided by UNIC from Rangoon shows UN special envoy
Ibrahim Gambari (L) shaking hands with Burmese Minister for Labour and Minister
for Relations Aung Kyi during their meeting in Rangoon, on 04 November. [Photo: AFP]
Three NLD Officers to Meet With Gambari
By Wai Moe November 7 , 2007
NLD Chairman Aung Shwe, Secretary U Lwin and Nyunt Wai are scheduled to meet with Gambari, said NLD spokesperson Nyuan Win.
Gambari, who is scheduled to leave Burma on Thursday, is also expected to meet with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, with officials of the pro-junta National Unity Party, officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other parties, according to a UN press release. He is also scheduled to meet with the junta's Secretary 1 Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo.
Prime Minister Lt-Gen Thein Sein met with Gambari on Wednesday morning and Gambari met with two junta ministers, Soe Tha of Planning and Economic Development and Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung of Religious Affairs on Tuesday.
Gambari had proposed a three-way meeting between Suu Kyi, a junta member and himself to promote political reform and reconciliation, but the junta rejected the idea.
"Currently, the tripartite meeting will not be possible," Minister of Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan told Gambari on Tuesday, according to the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Aye Thar Aung, an ethnic leader and secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, said on Wednesday that reconciliation dialogue should open and unconditional.
“The junta’s conditions to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi and delays in the dialogue process seem dishonest,” Aye Thar Aung said. “The junta’s appointing a liaison officer, ex-Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, might be the generals’ tactic to prolong the process for democracy.
“The international community should not believe the junta’s lies about Burma’s democracy. We (Burmese) expect a UN binding resolution for democracy, if the junta keeps its hard-line stance.”
An ethnic leader of Zomi, Cin Sin Thaung, also called on the UN Security Council to pass a binding resolution promoting Burma's national reconciliation.
“If Gambari’s trip is unsuccessful, the UN must think of the next step for Burma—it must be a binding resolution," he said.

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