Mind Your Own Business, it’s Myanmar domestic affair

Singapore’s proposal to invite the United Nations' special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, to brief East Asian leaders who are meeting here tomorrow has been met with strong opposition by other Asean countries.

Myanmar’s unhappiness over the special briefing was at first voiced by its Foreign Minister Nyan Win to his Asean counterparts yesterday and later in the evening by Myanmar Prime Minister Lieutenant General Thein Sein during the Asean leaders' informal dinner.

Host Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who held a press conference immediately after the dinner said the special session would not be held after Thien Sein voiced his unhappiness.

“Prime Minister Thein Sein (front right) made clear the situation is a domestic affair and Myanmar was capable of handling itself. He explained that Gambari had visited Myanmar four times and Myanmar had implemented many of his proposals. He should only report to the UN Security Council and not the East Asia Summit.

“In view of Myanmar’s position, Gambari will not brief Asean or East Asia Summit leaders. Singapore will facilitate meetings with interested parties,” Lee told a press conference, flanked by all the leaders.

Asean officials said some countries felt that Asean matters should stay within the grouping and not involve other countries outside the region.

“Singapore then proposed for Gambari to meet with Asean leaders and again this was not agreed upon,” said an Asean official.

Singapore has invited Gambari to have a special session when Asean leaders meet their dialogue partners – China, Japan and South Korea – on the latest developments in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Asean Charter to be signed by the leaders today would not sideline Myanmar which has been globally criticised for its human rights violations.

“Whatever views that have been voiced, this is a decision made by our foreign ministers on a consensus basis and Asean must accept it. We do not want any country to be left behind,” he told the Malaysian media.

Abdullah said the charter would pave the way to strengthen Asean’s integration in all aspects including economic and social ones.

Gambari returned to Myanmar amid row

United Nations envoy Mr Ibrahim Gambari returned to army-ruled Myanmar yesterday as a row over the junta's move to kick out the UN's top resident diplomat overshadowed his mission to coax the generals to reform.

He emphasised immediately UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's backing of country chief Charles Petrie, told by the regime he was no longer welcome after highlighting a deepening economic crisis that fuelled mass protests crushed by the army.

"Mr Gambari conveyed the Secretary-General's support for the Country Team and the Resident Coordinator and the important work they continue to do to improve the socioeconomic and humanitarian situation," the UN office in Yangon said in a statement.

"In this regard, Mr Gambari plans to address, with the Myanmar authorities, a range of issues, including those discussed previously, pertaining to further cooperation and dialogue between the United Nations system and Myanmar."

The statement also said Mr Gambari, met by Petrie at Yangon airport before flying on to the junta's new capital, Naypyidaw, unaccompanied by the UN country head, had a "specific message" for junta supremo Than Shwe.

It gave no hints on what the message might be.

Mr Gambari's mission, on his second visit to the former Burma since the army crushed monk-led protests in September, is to persuade the junta to enter serious talks about political reform with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. - Reuters

Myanmar expelling UN envoy

Myanmar on Friday ordered the expulsion of the United Nation’s top diplomat in the country after his office issued a critical statement urging the ruling generals to heed the voices of protesters.

The diplomat, Charles Petrie, was handed a letter ordering his expulsion at the end of a meeting with government officials on Friday in Naypyidaw, the capital.

“The government of the Union of Myanmar does not want Mr. Petrie to continue to serve in Myanmar, especially at this time when the cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations is crucial,” the letter said.

The sudden decision comes on the eve of a six-day visit by the UN special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, aimed at bridging the gap between the junta and its opponents.

UN Spokesman in Bangkok, Hak-Fan Lau said Petrie was expelled because the envoy has earned the ire of the ruling junta when he spoken out the regime's violent suppression of the protests

Meanwhile, despite this twist of event, Gambari assured he would not cancel his scheduled visit in the country.

The office of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement saying that he was “disappointed” by the Myanmar government’s move and that he had instructed Mr. Gambari to convey his views on the expulsion directly to the authorities.

The Bush administration sharply criticized the expulsion.

On Oct. 24, Mr. Petrie’s office issued a statement urging the government to listen to dissenting voices in Myanmar and warning of a “deteriorating humanitarian situation.” It concluded with a reference to the protests, which erupted after a fuel price increase in August and developed into a wider movement calling for political change.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested the next day, saying the statement was “unprecedented” and “very negative,” and it complained that Myanmar officials had not been notified in advance.