Description:
Summary:
The present report is submitted pursuant to paragraph 6 of General Assembly
resolution 62/222. On 22 May 2007, the Secretary-General designated his Special
Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Political Issues and former
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, to continue to
pursue the good offices on his behalf. During the reporting period, from 23 October
2007 to 5 September 2008, the Special Adviser visited Myanmar three times at the
invitation of the Government, in November 2007, March 2008 and August 2008. On
each visit, the Special Adviser was able to engage with representatives of both the
Government of Myanmar and the opposition.
During his visits and in all his discussions with representatives of the
Government, opposition and other stakeholders, the Special Adviser continued his
efforts on behalf of the Secretary-General to promote national reconciliation, the
restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Myanmar, in accordance
with the objectives of relevant General Assembly resolutions. To that end, the
Special Adviser focused on the following five key areas of concern to the United
Nations and the international community, as endorsed by the Group of Friends of the
Secretary-General and in the Security Council: (a) the release of all political
prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; (b) the need for an enhanced,
substantive and time-bound dialogue between the Government and Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi; (c) the need for an inclusive and credible political transition process to
civilian and democratic government; (d) avenues for improving socio-economic
conditions, including through a broad-based national mechanism; and (e) ways to
regularize the process of mutual engagement and cooperation through the good
offices process.
In consultations with Member States, the Secretary-General and the Special
Adviser also reiterated four guiding principles for the implementation of the
Secretary-General?s good offices mandate, namely: (a) the good offices are a process,
not an event, and require sustained engagement through regular visits and
consultations with all concerned; (b) the situation in Myanmar requires
comprehensive engagement on a broad range of political, human rights, humanitarian
and socio-economic issues; (c) engagement cannot be an end in itself, but must yield
concrete results; and (d) the international community needs to continue to work
together constructively in support of the goals of the good offices.
Following the designation, on 8 October 2007, of the Minister for Relations
with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, they both met together five times between November
2007 and January 2008. This marked the first attempt at a dialogue between the
Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since 2003. In addition, for the first time in
four years, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to meet twice with the Central
Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
On 9 February 2008, the Government of Myanmar for the first time made
public a time frame for the next steps in its political ?road map” process towards the
establishment of a civilian and democratic government, announcing that a national
referendum on a draft constitution would be held in May 2008, followed by
multiparty elections in 2010.
On 2 May 2008, cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, leaving an estimated 140,000
people dead or missing, and an estimated 2.4 million people severely affected. In
response to the cyclone, the Secretary-General visited Myanmar on 22 and 23 May
2008, marking the first visit to that country by a Secretary-General of the United
Nations in 44 years. Following the Secretary-General?s discussions with State Peace
and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe, access for
international aid workers was facilitated, and a Tripartite Core Group coordination
mechanism was set up between the Government of Myanmar, the United Nations and
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to facilitate an effective largescale
humanitarian response. On 25 May 2008, the Secretary-General returned to
Myanmar to co-chair a joint high-level pledging conference in Yangon with the
Government of Myanmar and ASEAN.
On 10 May 2008, the Government of Myanmar held a constitutional
referendum as planned, despite the Secretary-General?s call to it to dedicate all
available resources to the emergency humanitarian response as a matter of priority.
Voting was postponed to 24 May 2008 in the 47 townships most affected by the
cyclone. On 29 May 2008, the Government announced that the draft constitution had
been formally adopted, with a reported 92.48 per cent approval and 98.12 per cent
turnout of voters.
On 27 May 2008, the Government of Myanmar extended the house arrest of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. In a statement issued on the same day, the Secretary-
General expressed his disappointment at the Government?s decision and stressed that
the release and ability of all political prisoners to take part in the political process
remained at the forefront of discussions with the Government of Myanmar in the
context of his good offices.
From 4 to 7 August 2008, the new Special Rapporteur for Human Rights,
Tomás Ojea Quintana, made his first visit to Myanmar at the invitation of the
Government. This followed a visit by his predecessor, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, in
November 2007, at the behest of the Special Adviser, after four years without being
granted access to the country. It also followed the adoption, on 28 March and 18 June
2008, by the Human Rights Council, of two resolutions (7/31 and 8/14) urging
Myanmar, inter alia, to cooperate with the Special Adviser.
Following the official announcement of the adoption of a new Constitution, the
Government of Myanmar has expressed its determination to proceed with multiparty
elections by 2010, the fifth step in its seven-step road map. At the same time, a
number of key stakeholders, including NLD, have formally stated their rejection of
the new Constitution and the process by which it was adopted. Thus, despite the
Government?s efforts in implementing its road map process, the political situation in
Myanmar has become even more complex and challenging, drawing increased
attention from the international community. The Secretary-General and his Special
Adviser have consistently emphasized that only a credible and inclusive political
process — based on mutual understanding and compromise by all stakeholders —
can help to advance the prospects of durable peace, national reconciliation,
democracy and respect for human rights in Myanmar.
In this regard, the support of the international community, including countries
in the region, for the good offices of the Secretary-General and the work of his Special
Adviser continue to be essential to the continuation of those efforts. The Secretary-
General welcomes and encourages the constructive role played by Myanmar?s
neighbours and ASEAN member States in support of his good offices and the work of
his Special Adviser. He further welcomes the April 2008 conclusion by the European
Council on Myanmar and the July 2008 statements by ASEAN, the Group of Eight,
the East Asian Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum, which all expressed
support for his good offices and for the continued efforts of his Special Adviser.
While the spirit of cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations has
been marked by improvement in recent months, including through the visits of the
Secretary-General and of his Special Adviser, it remains a source of frustration that
meaningful steps with tangible results have yet to be taken by the Myanmar
authorities in response to the concerns and expectations of the United Nations and
the international community in the context of the good offices process.
Ultimately, the future of Myanmar rests with the G
Source/publisher:
United Nations (A/63/356)
Date of Publication:
2008-09-17
Date of entry:
2008-11-25
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- Individual Documents
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Language:
English
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