New Delhi – There is no let up in the criticism from Burma's main opposition party – the National League for Democracy – on the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari's latest visit to Burma. It is firm in its belief that he had 'wasted precious time' by meeting only groups recommended by the junta.
The NLD in a statement released on Friday said, Gambari, who has visited Burma for the sixth time since his appointment as the special adviser on Burma to the UN secretary General, has till date failed to accomplish his mission.
"We always welcome UN missions, and before Gambari's visit we had hoped that he would bring significant change but in reality nothing has happened," Nyan Win, the NLD spokesperson told Mizzima on Saturday.
The NLD said, Gambari during his visits has failed to uphold the UN General Assembly resolutions and the 2007 Presidential Statement of the Security Council that urges the recognition of the 1990 election, call for the release of political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to implement reforms by starting a tripartite dialogue between the junta, opposition groups and ethnic minorities.
"None of it has materialized," said Nyan Win, questioning whether the UN envoy's mission failed to give shape to the UN decisions.
Gambari, in his last visit to Burma last week, met NLD leaders twice, though he failed to meet detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and junta supremo Snr. General Than Shwe.
During the meeting, the NLD leaders said they explained their opposition to the junta's roadmap and their inability to support the junta's 2010 election plans.
But in contrast, Gambari said he had urged the junta to conduct free and fair elections and allow technical experts from the UN to monitor the election, which is totally in variance with the NLD's stand, Nyan Win said.
Besides, during his visit, Gambari instead of meeting key political players, met humanitarian and welfare groups that are controlled by the junta, the NLD alleged.
"We want the UN to act responsibly and work strongly and effectively," said Nyan Win.
Nyan Win added that the Nigerian diplomat during his last visit wasted much of his precious time by attending the junta's scheduled meetings.
But the UN defended its envoy, saying Gambari's latest visit to military-ruled Burma cannot be judged as a failure, as the UN initiative is a process and not based on a particular event or meeting.
Marie Okabe, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General on August 25, told reporters in New York, "the Secretary-General's good offices is a process, not an event."
