Myanmar Prime Minister, UN envoy to visit Cambodia

The Prime Minister of Myanmar and the U.N.’s special envoy to the military-ruled country will take turns visiting Cambodia this week to discuss Myanmar’s political crisis, officials said Wednesday.

Cambodian Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith declined to comment on whether the timing of the two visits was coincidental, but said that Cambodia is not playing an intermediary role in the Myanmar crisis.

After Myanmar’s September crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, Cambodia joined countries around the world in calling for the junta to halt its violence and embrace democracy.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also called for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to play a more active role in resolving the crisis.

Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. Secretary General’s envoy, will arrive Thursday to meet with Cambodian officials, said Hua Jiang, a U.N. diplomat traveling with the envoy. The trip is Gambari’s latest tour through ASEAN nations to coax Myanmar’s neighbors to promote reconciliation between the junta and a suppressed pro-democracy movement.

Phnom Penh, Wednesday, AP