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Burma Junta Nixes Talks With UN, Dissident

Suu Kyi must drop sanction support; UN not making progress

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 7, 2007 3:26 PM CST
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(Newser) – The junta ruling Myanmar—formerly Burma—today rejected a UN proposal for three-way talks that would have included detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Agence France-Presse reports. It is the latest disappointment to mar the visit of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, in which he has been denied an audience with top general Than Shwe and admonished for UN "interference" in state affairs.

The junta cited Suu Kyi's support for international sanctions in rejecting the talks. The UN has advocated democratic reforms since the brutal September suppression of pro-democracy protests, and the UN envoy's return seems unlikely to produce results. Gambari has met with Suu Kyi's National Democratic Party and passed a letter to Than Shwe from the UN secretary-general.

A Myanmar soldier stands guard near the home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in this May 6, 2002, file photo, in Yangon. Security near Suu Kyi's home has been considerably eased ahead of a possible meeting with a U.N. envoy, diplomats said Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. (AP...
A Myanmar soldier stands guard near the home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in this May 6, 2002, file photo, in Yangon. Security near Suu Kyi's home has been considerably eased ahead of a possible...   (Associated Press)
Campaigners wearing masks of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrate outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark her 12th anniversary of house detention by the Myanmar ruling military regime, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Campaigners wearing masks of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrate outside the Chinese Embassy in London to mark her 12th anniversary of house detention by the Myanmar ruling military...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by the United Nations, UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, left, meets with Myanmar Minister for Labor and Relations H.E. U Aung Kyi Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Myanmar's military junta has summoned foreign diplomats to its new remote capital to meet with Gambari. (AP...
In this photo provided by the United Nations, UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, left, meets with Myanmar Minister for Labor and Relations H.E. U Aung Kyi Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Myanmar's...   (Associated Press)
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Junta is just going through the motions with the UN
Sydney Morning Herald

Myanmar says it will 'take action' against some pro-democracy detainees
Times of India (India)

 
United Nations • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • Yangon • Ibrahim Gambari • Than Shwe • Ban Ki-moon

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