Envoy in new Burma talks bid
United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari hopes to secure another visit to Burma through his visit to the region
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Sunday, 14, Oct 2007 11:56
United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari is travelling to Thailand's capital Bangkok to communicate the international community's concerns about the Burmese government's crackdown on protestors.
The senior diplomat's visit to the region comes amid claims from human rights organisations of further arrests of activists in Burma's main city, Yangon.
Amnesty International has stated that four activists, who played a prominent role in the recent pro-democracy protests in the country, had been detained by the ruling junta.
Mr Gambari has previously met with members of the military junta as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, during a visit in the wake of the government's crackdown against demonstrators.
The UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has tasked Mr Gambari with creating a suitable environment for progress on the issue and ensuring a return visit to Burma in the future.
His trip to the region, which will see him visit Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan, comes after the UN security council's condemnation of the suppression of protests.
A few weeks ago Yangon was the scene of large-scale anti-establishment protests as monks led a peaceful campaign against the ruling junta.
The marches last month, which initially started as a demonstration against an increase in fuel prices, turned into a protest against the government, forcing a state-sponsored crackdown which led to the deaths of at least ten people and the detainment of hundreds of monks.