World losing patience with junta, it's time to end suffering, says Ban

General News - Tuesday December 11, 2007

BURMA UN SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT

World losing patience with junta, it's time to end suffering, says Ban

ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AGENCIES

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Burma yesterday that the international community was losing its patience, saying it was time the junta embraced democracy and ended the people's suffering. He also urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to do more to convince the Burmese military regime to end authoritarian rule.

''I know the international community is very much impatient, and our patience is running out,'' he told a press conference after talks with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and key cabinet ministers.

Mr Ban hoped the Burmese leaders would take this warning seriously and end people's suffering from isolation and lack of democracy and freedom.

Dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and a Burmese minister was a good start but talks between the opposition leader and military leaders were needed, he said.

The UN chief wants to see Asean play a more important role in promoting democracy in its troubled member.

''We have made certain progress but much more needs to be done in bringing democratisation and promoting and protecting human rights in Burma. We need Asean's special cooperation,'' he said.

''From today [Monday], I, United Nations and my commissions will begin to further promote human rights around the world and in Burma,'' he said.

Yesterday was Human Rights Day.

Gen Surayud pledged Thailand's full support to UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari who is trying to talk the junta into returning democracy to Burma.

''The Asean-UN summit in Thailand next year is also another window of opportunity to discuss Burma's future,'' said the prime minister.

Earlier in the day, nearly 100 activists led by the Chiang Mai-based Women League of Burma and Thai Action Committee on Burma, staged a peaceful rally in front of the UN building prior to Mr Ban's visit.

They handed a petition to a representative of the UN Human Rights Commission, calling on the UN to play a greater role in bringing democracy to Burma.

The UN chief commended Thailand for its firm contribution to better global public health and ratification of the UN agreement on climate change.

Mr Ban will leave Bangkok today for an international meeting on climate change in Bali where negotiators are trying to set down a strategy for a new pact to curb the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change and are making the Earth hotter.

He urged developing nations to take the fight seriously, warning that rising temperatures could cut development gains across Asia.

''This urgent problem not only threatens to undercut many of the development gains witnessed across Asia in recent years, it calls into question plans for continued progress and prosperity here in Thailand and across the entire region,'' the UN chief said.

Asia already accounts for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and is also home to many of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, he said.

While calling on industrialised nations to lead the way in curbing greenhouse gases, Mr Ban said developing nations also need to take immediate action before it is too late.

By : Bangkok Post