Word: gambari
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Dates: during 2007-2007
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Compared to its usual benighted state, recent events in Burma appear to offer a glimmer of hope. On his return from a six-day visit, United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari told the Security Council on Nov. 13 that the situation in Burma was "qualitatively different" from how it was during September's brutal crackdown against Buddhist monk-led democracy protests. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate opposition leader, was allowed to meet with members of her party for the first time in three years, and released a statement saying she looked forward to "a meaningful and time-bound...
...these conciliatory gestures are likely to be fleeting. Junta leader General Than Shwe refused to meet with Gambari during his visit. The generals say they have no intention of ending Suu Kyi's house arrest; she has been detained for 12 of the past 18 years. And despite assurances to the contrary, the junta continues to jail dissidents like labor-rights activist Su Su Nway and U Gambira, a key leader of the democracy protests...
...that happens, what can the world do? There is already unprecedented international pressure on Burma, although its impact on this isolated and xenophobic regime is questionable. While I was in Rangoon, U.N. Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari met with both Suu Kyi (twice) and junta chief Than Shwe, but Gambari's efforts look unlikely to kick-start a dialogue between the two. Similarly, China's influence over Burma--and its willingness to use it--is probably exaggerated. Its U.N. Ambassador, Wang Guangya, has characterized Burma's troubles as "basically internal...
...During his Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 visit to Burma, U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari met both Than Shwe and Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 that the junta ignored. Exile groups speculated these rare meetings might signal at least a token effort by the generals to address widespread international condemnation of last week's crackdown. Rumors that Than Shwe, who has been ill for years, has picked junta No. 3 Shwe Mann - a purported economic pragmatist - as his favored successor have also raised hopes. But a change of guard may not mean much...
...monk-led demonstrators, exile groups buzzed with speculation that the junta's No. 2, General Maung Aye, was opposing any violence. Then, army troops opened fire, killing at least 10 people in Rangoon. On Sunday, democracy advocates regained a modicum of hope when visiting United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari was allowed to meet with Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy won elections in 1990 that the junta ignored. Exile websites wondered whether this meeting meant that more moderate officers were holding sway. Rumors also abounded that Than Shwe's family had fled the country. But Burma's military...