Junta sends out mixed signals ahead of Gambari’s arrival
Yangon (AsiaNews) – Tensions with the UN, new restrictions on internet access, “warnings” to the Buddhist monks not to take part in fresh demonstrations and renewed violence in the prisons. That’s how the Burmese junta is preparing to receive the UN special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, who will arrive tomorrow in Yangon for his second visit in less than a month. According to diplomatic sources, the government is preparing to expel the head of the UN mission in the country, Charles Petrie, for having spoken out about the widespread poverty in the nation in a statement published on October 24th. Petrie was called to a meeting in the new capital of former Burma, Naypydaw, for an official reprimand regarding the text.
Doubts regarding the success of the UN mission
Petrie, the Chief UN official operative in Yangon, was preparing the round ahead of Gambari’s mission. During his visit the UN envoy is due to meet with exponents from civil society, as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and some of the junta generals. On October 24th the UN had denounced the rampant poverty in the country – with a gross national product half of that of Cambodia and Bangladesh – and the dramatic health situation. According to the junta these declarations have tarnished the country’s image and compromise continued collaboration between the government and UN.
Meanwhile analysts and Burmese activists have expressed their doubts about any possible successful outcome from Gambari’s visit (3 – 8 November).In an appeal launched today, U Maung Maung – general secretary of the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), which is based along the border with Thailand – says he is “encouraged” by the envoys visit but that “four days are too few to resolve the problems in Myanmar”. The union leader goes on to ask that the UN and international community “open up a United Nations office in Yangon” who can monitor the situation 24 /7 and issue reports”.
Protests and repression continue
In the meantime the government is making sure that the situation “doesn’t slip from their control” during the UN envoys permanence. For the last 24 hours access to internet has been restricted, with users unable to link up to international websites. The junta had already block access in September, to halt the flood of information and images of the repression against the Buddhist monks from leaving the country.
Following the October 31 protests by monks from Pakokku, where over 200 bonzi returned to the streets to protest for the first time in weeks, the local authorities summoned the monastery administrators from about five high-profile monasteries and told them to urge the monks not to not to continue with their protests, unnamed monks referred to the Democratic Voice of Burma website.
Despite the unprecedented violence inflicted by the military junta, on the monks and civilians, tortured disappeared or cremated the silent protests continue. The Buddhist religious continue with their boycott of all alms offered by military or members of their families, a very strong sign of dissent in a country as deeply religious as Myanmar. News has also arrived of protests within the prisons: two days ago a group of 70 detainees rebelled within the prison of Insein loudly contesting the “false” image projected by State TV news. The guards intervened with force leaving two people gravely injured.
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