New York (AsiaNews) – “Any effort to promote positive changes in Myanmar [Burma] is going to require not only direct dialogue with the government and people of the country, but also dialogue with all interested countries and all who can potentially help support our efforts”. Above all China. This short statement by Marie Okabe, vice spokesperson for the UN secretary general, underline the meaning if the “Asian mission” began on July 8th by the United Nations special envoy for Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari.
Following the la test denouncements by dissidents it is becoming increasing clear, even in the UN headquarters, that all international calls for democratic progress in former Burma will fall on empty ears, as long as the military regime is supported by international powers such as Beijing and Delhi. Gambari will travel to Asia for a week; the first stop on his journey China followed by India and Japan.
Beijing considers Myanmar its most important ally in on the continent: it finances its infrastructure projects, in order to profit from its energy resources, also coveted by India’s powerhouse, along with an infinite number of products and labour which has led to its control of the country’s Northern provinces.
The military junta has been under pressure from Asean, the UN and human rights organisations for years, who have repeatedly called for the release of the Noble Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the approval of a new constitution still under discussion.
From July 8th to 10th, the UN envoy met with the Chinese under secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dai Bingguo and the Minister for Foreign Affairs assistant, Cui Tiankai. But what has emerged from those meetings seems to be China’s refusal to cooperate. While it appreciates the United Nations commitment for “stability and social harmony” in Myanmar, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office made clear that China does not regard the Naypyidaw regime as a “regional threat” underlining that the country’s internal problems “should be faced by the nation’s people”.