China ‘helpful’ in Myanmar crisis: UN envoy
UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari praised China’s “helpful” role in
efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis on Thursday, saying Beijing helped
him gain access to the isolated country last month.
The UN diplomat also said he supported engagement with the military
regime along with incentives, though he did not elaborate on what those
could be. Myanmar’s military junta violently suppressed anti-government
protests led by Buddhist monks across the country in September, sparking
a global outcry and triggering a fresh international push for democracy.
China is a major supplier of weapons to Myanmar and has come under
harsh criticism for its policy of non-interference in the reclusive
nation’s affairs.
Speaking in Indonesia on a six-nation tour of Asia aimed at
increasing the pressure on the junta, Gambari said Beijing had promoted
diplomatic efforts to open dialogue between the junta and opposition.
“China has been very helpful to the secretary general and to me
personally... by getting consent of the government of Myanmar (for) my
last visit during the crisis,” Gambari said.
“The Chinese authorities continue to do more to move the authorities
in Myanmar along the path which can only be sustained by dialogue...
between the government and opposition.”
Speaking after meeting Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda,
he said the United Nations would “continue to see China as an ally” in
dealing with the regime.
Gambari travelled to Myanmar in late September following the
crackdown on mass protests that left at least 13 dead, meeting with
government and pro-democracy figures, including detained opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
He said he backed a combination of “strong encouragement of the
authorities of Myanmar to do the right thing along with some incentives
to say that... the world is not just there to punish Myanmar.”
Gambari is to return to Myanmar in November.
About 3,000 people were arrested when troops put down the
demonstrations, which saw more than 100,000 people take to the streets
and were the biggest challenge to the military’s rule in nearly 20
years.
Jakarta, Friday, AFP
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