New Delhi – The United Nations Secretary General on Tuesday said he may cancel a planned visit to military-ruled Burma unless the government there fully implements a process of democratization.
Ban Ki-moon, during a press briefing to reporters on Tuesday, said he is willing to make a return visit to Burma, but he might be forced to cancel any such plan if the government fails to implement tangible progress toward democratization.
The world body chief last visited Burma, a country ruled by the military since 1962, last May in the wake of deadly Cyclone Nargis in an effort to convince the ruling junta to allow the international community greater access in helping cyclone victims.
The junta did respond to Ban's call and subsequently loosened restrictions on humanitarian relief and aid workers entering the country.
In August, Ban's special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, visited the country and indicated that the world body chief would intended to make a second trip to the country in December.
"Now, as to my visit, when I said I will be personally engaged, that meant that I would be willing to pay a return visit to Myanmar at an appropriate time. But you should also know that without any tangible or very favorable results to be achieved, then I may not be in a position to visit Myanmar," Ban told reporters in New York.
Ban said he is now laying some groundwork that will hopefully allow him to consider a second visit to Burma, but cautioned, "I need some more time. I will have to consider all the circumstances – when would be an appropriate time for me to visit."
Ban said that while the UN is committed to assist Burma in implementing democratic reforms, the junta must first prove that it is truly implementing a process of democratization, including the release of detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Burma's main opposition party – National League for Democratic – said it agrees with the world body chief in his statement regarding his next visit to Burma, saying it would be difficult for the party to cooperate unless the junta begins to implement the mandated reforms.
"We agree with [Ban's] statement and will not be able to give our cooperation [to his visiting] without any developments," commented Nyan Win, the National League for Democracy spokesperson.
Nyan Win said the junta should begin to implement a process of democratization by starting with the release of all political prisoners including party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, while kick-starting a process of dialogue.
Meanwhile, the junta maintains that it continues on the road of democratization through implementation of its self-styled seven step roadmap to democracy. The fourth step of the plan, a constitutional referendum, was conducted earlier this May.
The junta said it will next hold a general election in 2010, after which it will convene parliament and hand over power to the victorious party.
But critics say that with the main opposition party – National League for Democracy – and ethnic parties boycotting the process, the junta's roadmap is a "sham" aimed only at legalizing further military rule in Burma.
