| United Nations Relations with Myanmar |
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Ban Ki-moon meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar  BBC News - 1 May 2012 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time, in the latest stage of his visit to Burma. The meeting came a day after Ms Suu Kyi, who was elected to parliament a month ago, agreed to take the parliamentary oath despite its wording. Mr Ban is on a three-day visit to Burma to encourage more democratic reforms. On Monday he became the first visiting foreigner to address parliament. [The BBC report includes a 5-minute video recording of a statement by Ban Ki-moon at the joint press conference with Suu Kyi.) Visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Myanmar
Helping Myanmar on the road to democracy  Vijay Nambiar: The New York Times - 24 April 2012 The UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Myanmar sets out the four major concerns of the Secretary-General during his forthcoming visit - to sustain the pace of reform, to ensure that Myanmar can catch up with its neighbours, to secure reconciliation in the ethnic regions and to promote the process of political reform. "As the international community views events in Myanmar with hope and expectation, the question should not be 'can it hold?' It should be, 'what can we do to help?' "
Ban Ki-moon hails ASEAN efforts in democratising Myanmar  Bernama - 23 March 2012 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has hailed the efforts of Asean member countries, including Malaysia, in helping the current democratisation process of Myanmar. He described the democratisation of Myanmar as the right way as it would lead to greater participation in democracy and greater freedom of movement and speech. Visit to Myanmar by the UN Special Adviser Vijay Nambiar UNIC Yangon - 17 February 2012 In the press release on his five-day visit to Myanmar, the Special Adviser concluded that he "welcomes the Government’s recognition of the value of partnership with the United Nations to help Myanmar meet the challenges and opportunities before it. The good offices of the United Nations are ready to work with all stakeholders in this important task. The Special Adviser also feels that the international community must respond more robustly to the needs of the Myanmar people by lifting current restrictions on UN programmes. Now is the time to step up support and to adjust existing policies in order to help build conditions for sustaining the reform and for the betterment of Myanmar’s peoples."
Statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar UN Information Centre Yangon - 5 February 2012  On his departure from Myanmar at the conclusion of his six-day visit, UN Special Rapporteur Tomás Ojea Quintana made a number of comments. Here are some verbatim extracts from his press statement (pdf version at this link).
Ban welcomes reform measures in meeting with President Thein Sein UN News Centre - 19 November 2011 Mr. Ban encouraged all parties in Myanmar to seize the historic opportunity to build on the latest measures through an inclusive and broad-based political process to strengthen national unity and set the reform process on an irreversible course to fulfil the promises made to the people of Myanmar. Sustaining recent initiatives could set Myanmar on a new course - UN envoy UN News Centre - 4 August 2011 The United Nations envoy for Myanmar today called on the authorities to keep up the momentum of recent initiatives to strengthen national unity and advance dialogue and reconciliation, stressing the ‘historic opportunity’ they have to set the country on a new path. This was the third visit since last year’s election for Special Adviser Vijay Nambiar and the second since the establishment of a new Government seven months ago. It also comes amid the ongoing dialogue between the Government and pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the release last month of a significant number of detainees.
Statement by Vijay Nambiar at the conclusion of his visit - 4 November 2011 Senior UN official arrives in Myanmar UN News Centre - 31 October 2011 Vijay Nambiar, who is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Chief of Staff as well as Special Adviser for Myanmar, will hold meetings in Naypyitaw and Yangon with the Government, as well as political parties, civil society organizations and other key players, in carrying out the Secretary-General’s good offices mandate. West leads in wielding veto powers at the United Nations IPS News (United Nations) - 5 October 2011 When Russia and China exercised a rare double veto against a Western resolution aimed at punishing Syria, the two big powers were repeating a similar feat derailing two earlier resolutions: one against Myanmar (Burma) in 2007 and the other against Zimbabwe in 2008. The Myanmar resolution was critical of that country's deplorable human rights record, while the Zimbabwe resolution threatened to cut off arms sales to the beleaguered regime of President Robert Mugabe (who was being beefed up with both Chinese and Russian weapons). Both Western-inspired resolutions were double-vetoed by Russia and China in an attempt to protect their allies - just as much as the last five U.S. vetoes (during 2004-2011) in the Security Council were meant to protect Israel. UN Secretary-General's statement after Group of Friends meeting UN Press Office - 27 September 2011 The Secretary-General issued a short statement after today's Group of Friends meeting, noting that: "Pledges on this [an early amnesty] have been made and must be fulfilled in a qualitatively significant manner. On its part, the international community has a responsibility to support Myanmar's change."
UN Secretary-General's meets Wunna Maung Lwin, Minister for Foreign Affairs New York, 18 September 2011 "The Secretary-General met with Myanmar's Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Wunna Maung Lwin today. He recognized the significance of recent developments in the country and encouraged the Myanmar Government to step up its reform efforts in order to bring about an inclusive transition in the interest of all the people of Myanmar. The Secretary-General reiterated his call for the early release of the remaining political prisoners. "The Secretary-General noted that Myanmar should not miss the opportunity of the improved goodwill toward the Government's stated objectives and reiterated the UN's commitment to continue to help the country address its political and developmental challenges. The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister also exchanged views on regional issues, including the upcoming UN-ASEAN Summit in November." Myanmar: Ban underlines the need to release all remaining political prisoners UN News Centre - 29 July 2011
Mr. Ban spoke by telephone with U Wunna Maung Lwin, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister, just days after he welcomed a meeting between a Government minister and Aung San Suu Kyi. In his conversation with the Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General “underlined that he had publicly welcomed the reform measures announced by the new Government. He hoped that the Government would now move toward concrete action and take the country forward towards peace, democracy and prosperity.” Mr. Ban also pressed for “early action” on releasing Myanmar’s remaining political prisoners, describing their release as the “single most important step the international community expected to take.”
A deeper level of understanding: Myanmar and the UN Equally as frustrating as the lack of funding, he said, are donor restrictions that inhibit implementation. One example is the UN Development Program’s Human Development Initiative, which reaches almost three million people. “UNDP is not able to do what it does in many other countries to make this program sustainable” because it cannot work with the government in terms of policy and training, said Mr Parajuli, who was also the UNDP resident representative. “The government very much wishes us to be engaged in Myanmar like in any other country and UNDP is looking into this.” Suu Kyi testifies before the US House of Representatives Sub Committee on Asia
Suu Kyi likely to press Australian Foreign Minister on Commission of Enquiry Statement by the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar The following statement was issued on 8 June 2011 by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: This morning, the Secretary-General convened the first meeting of his Group of Friends on Myanmar since the establishment of a new Government in Naypyitaw. The Group heard from his Special Adviser, following his recent visit to that country. Given Myanmar’s decades-long conflict and political deadlock, this meeting took place against a backdrop of significant recent developments that could affect the country’s future direction and standing regionally and globally. It is clear that Myanmar today continues to face the same challenges it has faced for too long; the country’s human rights, political, social, economic and humanitarian problems are serious, deep-seated and long-standing. Equally clear, however, is the desire of the United Nations to see Myanmar succeed in addressing those challenges. President Thein Sein’s stated recognition of the need to do so in a way that strengthens national unity, including through wide-ranging reforms, is welcome. Whether the new Government has the political will, capacity and support to live up to its commitments and promises is yet to be seen. In order for Myanmar to move forward, all citizens should be allowed to participate in building their country’s future. Releasing all political prisoners and reaching out as broadly as possible through dialogue to all those who have a contribution to make - including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political forces inside and outside Parliament - will be key to ensuring that any reforms enjoy broad support. There is no time to waste. Collectively too, the international community has a shared responsibility towards the people of Myanmar. Enabling the current process to result in a successful transition requires us to follow events closely, but also to recognize efforts and maximize opportunities for meaningful change. That is why, with the cooperation of the new Government and the continued support of Member States, the Secretary-General is personally committed to the United Nations long-term engagement with Myanmar in the political, humanitarian and development areas, all of which are important to advance durable peace and democracy. Security Council briefed on Myanmar by Vijay Nambiar
Matthew Russell Lee, Inter City Press, reports that the Permanent Representative of the UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant spoke to the Press. "He recounted that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has suggested the need for a full time UN envoy, adding that the UK 'has long believed that it would be good to have a permanent, full time envoy to regularly visit'. Lyall Grant said that while Nambiar 'felt the tone of what the government was doing since the election was better, more open than it had been before,' the UK sees 'no effective response to key demands of the international community'. The military dominated government has given 'amnesty to only just over two percent of political prisoners, there are still over two thousand.' Lyall Grant was dismissive of 'taking one year off a sixty five years sentence of student leaders, and the ninety three years given to the Shan community leadership'. He added that 'there has not yet been any inclusive dialogue with the Opposition outside Parliament'.”
Visit of the UN Secretary-General to Myanmar 4-6 July 2009 Statement to the Security Council on 13 July 2009
UN Department of Public Information The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Myanmar from 4 to 6 July 2009 At link are Pages 1, 8, 16 and 9 (in that order) of "The New Light of Myanmar" of 5 July 2009. These pages report on the discussions with the UN Sec Gen Ban Ki-moon and on his meeting with local political parties. Senior General Than Shwe told Ban Ki-moon that "the Government will hold fair elections in 2010. The necesary laws, regulations and procedures are being drafted to be completed in time. When they have been drafted, parties will be formed and election laws will be issued in time. Plans have been made for everyone to participate in the election. The laws are being drafted to be fair. Arrangements will be made to form parties and to run for the elections. With the concept that national unity is a must for the nation, the present government has built trust and confidence with the insurgent groups that had emerged in the post-independence period and they are now cooperating with the government. Although there are still some insurgent groups, 17 major armed groups and small armed groups have made peace with the government and are carrying out regional development tasks. He added that he would like to arrange a meeting between the UNSG and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but she is now on trial with US citizen Mr John William Yettaw. So, he would like the UNSG to understand that she is not available in the trial period."
Unofficial translation of the UNSG's speech into Burmese United Nations documents relating to Myanmar Security Council Security Council Press Statement on Myanmar dated 13 August 2009 6161st Meeting of the Security Council on Myanmar dated 13 July 2009 Security Council Press Statement on Myanmar dated 22 May 2009 Presidential Statement dated 2 May 2008 5885th Meeting of the Security Council 2 May 2008 5854th Meeting of the Security Council 18 March 2008 Security Council Press Statement on Myanmar dated 17 January 2008 Security Council Press Statement on Myanmar dated 14 November 2007 5777th Meeting of the Security Council 13 November 2007 Presidential Statement dated 11 October 2007 5757th Meeting of the Security Council 11 October 2007 5753th Meeting of the Security Council 5 October 2007 Clash of the Titans: An Analysis by Derek Tonkin of the 5618th Meeting 5619th Meeting of the Security Council 12 January 2007 Draft Resolution presented on 12 January 2007 and vetoed by China and Russia 5526th Meeting (continued) 29 September 2006 (closed session) 5526th Meeting of the Security Council 15 September 2006 General Assembly 2011 UNGA Resolution of 24 December 2011 on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar UN Department of Information Press Release [Voting 83 for, 21 against, 39 abstentions] 2010
UNGA Resolution of 24 December 2010 on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution voting pattern in Annex II) 2009
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution voting pattern in Annex 1]
2008
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution voting pattern in Annex VII]
2007
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution voting pattern in Annex IX]
2006
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution voting pattern in Annex II]
2005
UN Department of Information Press Release [Resolution passed by consensus]
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Special Themes
• International Crisis Group• Google Map of Yangon
• Myanmar CSO Statistics
• ILO in Myanmar
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