New drive to talk Burma into reform

Patrick Walters | December 13, 2007
AUSTRALIA is expected to join a new informal UN grouping aimed at building international dialogue with Burma's military rulers and encouraging them to embrace democracy.

The initiative has come from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has canvassed the idea with a number of countries, including Australia.

Mr Ban yesterday discussed the situation in Burma with Australia's new Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, on the edge of the Bali climate conference.

Senior government sources told The Australian last night that Canberra had welcomed Mr Ban's proposal, with the Rudd Government wanting a more determined effort by the international community to bring about political change in Burma.

The UN "core group" could include China as well as ASEAN representatives, with Mr Ban seeing it as another mechanism to engage the Burmese junta.

In his first week in office, Mr Smith discussed a more active diplomatic approach on Burma with US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and with Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka.

Mr Ban warned on Monday that the international community's patience with Burma was "running out" and urged the junta to improve human rights and accelerate steps towards creating a democracy.

"The people of Myanmar (Burma) have suffered from isolation for such a long time and it is high time now for the Myanmar authorities and people to be able to enjoy genuine democracy and genuine integration in the international community," he said en route to Bali.

The UN's special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, wants to return to the country by the end of the month to push for the release of political prisoners and a new dialogue between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the junta.

Mr Gambari has made two visits to Burma since the crackdown in September by the military rulers in the wake of widespread pro-democracy protests.