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UN raps Burma's 'slow progress' | UN raps Burma's 'slow progress' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The UN has criticised a lack of progress in Burma towards change, after last year's violent suppression of anti-government protests. | The UN has criticised a lack of progress in Burma towards change, after last year's violent suppression of anti-government protests. |
The UN Security Council called for more dialogue between Burma's military government and pro-democracy leaders. | The UN Security Council called for more dialogue between Burma's military government and pro-democracy leaders. |
It also urged the ruling junta to allow another visit by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari. | It also urged the ruling junta to allow another visit by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari. |
He has visited Burma twice since September's violence, in which at least 31 people were killed. | He has visited Burma twice since September's violence, in which at least 31 people were killed. |
In December, human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said more than 600 people were still being detained by the authorities as a result of the protests. | In December, human rights rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said more than 600 people were still being detained by the authorities as a result of the protests. |
'Slow progress' | 'Slow progress' |
In the wake of the violence, the UN called for genuine dialogue between the junta and the Aung San Suu Kyi-led pro-democracy movement, and the release of political prisoners. | In the wake of the violence, the UN called for genuine dialogue between the junta and the Aung San Suu Kyi-led pro-democracy movement, and the release of political prisoners. |
There is a huge gap between where we need to be and where we are Zalmay KhalilzadUS envoy to the UN | There is a huge gap between where we need to be and where we are Zalmay KhalilzadUS envoy to the UN |
In its statement, the council said it "regretted the slow rate of progress so far toward meeting those objectives". | In its statement, the council said it "regretted the slow rate of progress so far toward meeting those objectives". |
A Burmese government liaison, Aung Kyi, has so far held four meetings with the detained Ms Suu Kyi, but with little apparent progress. | A Burmese government liaison, Aung Kyi, has so far held four meetings with the detained Ms Suu Kyi, but with little apparent progress. |
Mr Gambari said he wanted leaders to allow him to visit the country later this month. | Mr Gambari said he wanted leaders to allow him to visit the country later this month. |
They had told him "that it's not convenient and they will prefer mid-April", he told reporters at the UN. | They had told him "that it's not convenient and they will prefer mid-April", he told reporters at the UN. |
This was unacceptable and the UN was now in the process of negotiating "an earlier, rather than a later" return to Burma, he said. | This was unacceptable and the UN was now in the process of negotiating "an earlier, rather than a later" return to Burma, he said. |
US envoy to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said that the organisation needed to do more to confront Burma's leaders. | US envoy to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad said that the organisation needed to do more to confront Burma's leaders. |
"There is a huge gap between where we need to be and where we are," he said. | "There is a huge gap between where we need to be and where we are," he said. |
"The policy of both engagement on the one hand with Mr Gambari and pressure on the other hand, and preparedness to increase the pressure as appropriate, is the right mix." | "The policy of both engagement on the one hand with Mr Gambari and pressure on the other hand, and preparedness to increase the pressure as appropriate, is the right mix." |
September's protests followed an unexpected hike in the price of fuel, hitting people hard in the poverty-stricken nation. | September's protests followed an unexpected hike in the price of fuel, hitting people hard in the poverty-stricken nation. |
Pro-democracy activists began the movement, which escalated into a huge monk-led demonstration against the ruling junta. | |
Government troops used force to end the protests. | Government troops used force to end the protests. |
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