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UN envoy meets Aung San Suu Kyi | UN envoy meets Aung San Suu Kyi |
(30 minutes later) | |
United Nations special envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari has met detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, government officials have said. | United Nations special envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari has met detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, government officials have said. |
No details of the talks were released. Mr Gambari's visit is part of a mission aimed at promoting dialogue between Burma's opposition and military rulers. | No details of the talks were released. Mr Gambari's visit is part of a mission aimed at promoting dialogue between Burma's opposition and military rulers. |
Ms Suu Kyi declined to meet Mr Gambari during his last visit six months ago due to a lack of progress in reform. | Ms Suu Kyi declined to meet Mr Gambari during his last visit six months ago due to a lack of progress in reform. |
She has spent much of the past 19 years under house arrest. | She has spent much of the past 19 years under house arrest. |
Mr Gambari, who arrived in Burma on Saturday, had talks with Foreign Minister Nyan Win. | Mr Gambari, who arrived in Burma on Saturday, had talks with Foreign Minister Nyan Win. |
It is unclear whether he will be allowed to meet the head of state, General Than Shwe. | It is unclear whether he will be allowed to meet the head of state, General Than Shwe. |
The UN envoy told diplomats that his objectives are to urge the release of political prisoners, discuss the country's ailing economy and revive a dialogue between Ms Suu Kyi and the junta. | The UN envoy told diplomats that his objectives are to urge the release of political prisoners, discuss the country's ailing economy and revive a dialogue between Ms Suu Kyi and the junta. |
Continuing crackdown | Continuing crackdown |
Mr Gambari's seventh trip to the country comes amid criticism that he has failed to achieve Ms Suu Kyi's release or any other discernible progress from his diplomacy. | Mr Gambari's seventh trip to the country comes amid criticism that he has failed to achieve Ms Suu Kyi's release or any other discernible progress from his diplomacy. |
Last week Win Naing, a spokesman for Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), told the Thailand-based magazine Irrawaddy: | |
"After the last six visits to Burma by the special envoy, we did not see any concrete results for political development in the country. | "After the last six visits to Burma by the special envoy, we did not see any concrete results for political development in the country. |
"But we hope there may be a solution to start a genuine dialogue on this trip." | "But we hope there may be a solution to start a genuine dialogue on this trip." |
BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says that even if Mr Gambari managed to meet Than Shwe, it was unlikely anything could be achieved. | |
The military is pushing ahead with a tightly-controlled election next year, which is guaranteed to leave it holding most of the levers of power. It has recently imposed long jail sentences on dozens of political activists. | The military is pushing ahead with a tightly-controlled election next year, which is guaranteed to leave it holding most of the levers of power. It has recently imposed long jail sentences on dozens of political activists. |
Mr Gambari hopes he can discuss a possible future visit to Burma by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, but diplomats say that would be inconceivable under current conditions. | |
Burma's ruling generals have continued to suppress dissent since crushing pro-democracy protests led by monks in September 2007. | Burma's ruling generals have continued to suppress dissent since crushing pro-democracy protests led by monks in September 2007. |
Rights groups say the number of political prisoners being held has doubled to 2,100 since then, with some given sentences of 65 years. | Rights groups say the number of political prisoners being held has doubled to 2,100 since then, with some given sentences of 65 years. |
The NLD won a general election in 1990 but the junta refused to allow the party to assume power. | The NLD won a general election in 1990 but the junta refused to allow the party to assume power. |
The junta says it will hold elections in 2010 under a revised constitution, a process which the opposition sees as fundamentally flawed. | The junta says it will hold elections in 2010 under a revised constitution, a process which the opposition sees as fundamentally flawed. |
In recent months, the generals have further consolidated their grip on power, pushing through a constitution which reserves 25% of the seats in any future parliament for the military. | In recent months, the generals have further consolidated their grip on power, pushing through a constitution which reserves 25% of the seats in any future parliament for the military. |