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UN calls for Burma reconciliation | UN calls for Burma reconciliation |
(29 minutes later) | |
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Burma's leaders and opposition to redouble their efforts to achieve national reconciliation. | |
Mr Ban said a return to the status quo that existed before the current crisis was "not sustainable". | |
A UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, has just returned to the US from talks with Burma's generals and is due to brief the Security Council soon. | A UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, has just returned to the US from talks with Burma's generals and is due to brief the Security Council soon. |
UN human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is also currently in Burma. | UN human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is also currently in Burma. |
He is investigating how many people were killed in the military's brutal crackdown on September's anti-government demonstrations, led by monks. | |
The government says 10 people died but diplomats fear the figure was far higher. Many people are still thought to be in detention. | The government says 10 people died but diplomats fear the figure was far higher. Many people are still thought to be in detention. |
UN briefings | UN briefings |
Mr Pinheiro's visit comes amid some signs that international pressure on Burma may be having an effect. | Mr Pinheiro's visit comes amid some signs that international pressure on Burma may be having an effect. |
At the end of Mr Gambari's visit last week, detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said - via a statement read by the UN envoy - that she was ready to work with military leaders. | At the end of Mr Gambari's visit last week, detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said - via a statement read by the UN envoy - that she was ready to work with military leaders. |
Many monks were detained or fled after the September protests | Many monks were detained or fled after the September protests |
They then agreed to let her meet members of her party for the first time in more than three years. A government-appointed liaison officer also met with Ms Suu Kyi. | |
In a statement, Mr Ban said that he hoped that this signalled the start of a process of "meaningful and substantive dialogue". | In a statement, Mr Ban said that he hoped that this signalled the start of a process of "meaningful and substantive dialogue". |
Both the government and the political parties should "redouble their efforts towards achieving national reconciliation, democracy and full respect for human rights", he said. | Both the government and the political parties should "redouble their efforts towards achieving national reconciliation, democracy and full respect for human rights", he said. |
Mr Gambari was expected to brief the Security Council on Tuesday or Wednesday. | |
Mr Pinheiro, meanwhile, has been in talks with senior officials from the ruling junta in the remote capital, Naypyidaw. | |
On Monday, the UN rapporteur visited Rangoon's notorious Insein prison, where political prisoners are held. | |
He spent more than an hour at the jail and also visited Buddhist monasteries raided by the authorities following the protests. | He spent more than an hour at the jail and also visited Buddhist monasteries raided by the authorities following the protests. |
This is Mr Pinheiro's first visit to Burma since 2003. He has said that he will leave immediately if the authorities do not co-operate with his visit. |
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