NLD 'Please' with second round meeting with UN envoy

by Phanida

Friday, 22 August 2008 22:16

Chiang Mai – Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations Special Envoy to on Friday met with leaders of Burma's main opposition party - National League for Democracy – for the second time during his visit again yesterday. This time around the NLD said they were pleased with the meeting. Led by the NLD central executive committee chairman Aung Shwe, Secretary U Lwin, Thakin Soe Myint, Than Tun and Nyunt Wei met with the UN envoy on Friday at the State Guest House in Rangoon for about an hour. "We are pleased with the meeting because we could have discussions based on his mission, unlike the earlier meeting. So we are pleased with the meeting," Nyan Win, the NLD spokesman, who is assign to speak to the press on the meeting, told Mizzima. "We had discussions based on his five-point mission. Last time we could not discuss these points. This time we could meet him exclusively and had enough time. But the talks are ongoing. We agreed to meet again. We cannot reveal the details of the meeting yet," he said. Nyan Win said, the main point of discussion was the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, Nyan Win on Wednesday said the party was disappointed with their meeting on August 20. On that day, the UN special envoy also met the pro-junta breakaway NLD party known as 'Wuntharnu NLD' and junta-backed 88 Generation Students (Union of Myanmar) led by Aye Lwin. During his five-day visit, which began on Monday, the Nigerian diplomat met junta's Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, Information Minister Brig. Gen. Kyaw Sann and visited cyclone-hit Kungyankone Township in Rangoon Division. Later he cancelled his scheduled visit to another cyclone-hit area in Irrawaddy delta due to bad weather. Though a meeting between the UN envoy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was scheduled on Wednesday morning, sources said, the Nobel Peace Laureate refused to meet him. Gambari, who is visiting for the fourth time since Burma's ruling junta brutally crackdown on peaceful protests in September 2007, said his had urged the government for the release of all political prisoners including NLD General Secretary Suu Kyi and Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo. He said, he also urged for a direct talk between the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, economic reforms and to allow him to open a liaison officer in order to maintain regular contact with him. Meanwhile, authorities have reportedly, beefed up security in Rangoon and the topic doing the rounds among local people is Suu Kyi's refusal to meet the UN envoy. < Prev   Next >