Ban Ki-moon calls for ‘democratic, inclusive’ govt in military-ruled Myanmar
Bangkok, Apr 25 (EFE).- Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a “democratic, inclusive, and legitimate government” in Myanmar as he met with military rulers in the conflict-torn Southeast Asian nation.
Moon was on a two-day Myanmar trip “to find a path to an end to violence,” his office said in a statement on Tuesday, amid an intensified offensive against the opposition by the military.
In Myanmar, he met military leaders and former president, Thein Sein, to discuss the situation.
He emphasized the importance of all parties playing a role in securing a lasting solution, including the opposition shadow National Unity Government (NUG).
The former UN chief is a member of the so-called group The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007 for “peace, justice, human rights, and a sustainable planet.”
“I came to Myanmar to urge the military to adopt an immediate cessation of violence, and start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned,” Ban Ki-moon said in the statement.
“My meetings were exploratory. I will do all I can to help the people of Myanmar secure the peace, prosperity, and freedom they deserve.”
On Monday, he met with military ruler Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyidaw.
The visit comes amid an escalation of violence in the country under military dictatorship since Feb.1, 2021.
An aerial strike allegedly ordered by the ruling generals left at least 168 dead, including 40 minors, in an opposition stronghold on Apr.11.
It was the bloodiest attack on record since the coup.
Calls for greater international involvement to resolve the Myanmar crisis grew after a visit last week by Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.
On Monday, India hosted a meeting in New Delhi attended by the military rulers and representatives of Myanmar’s neighbors, including Bangladesh, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
Ban Ki-moon has stressed the urgency of making progress on implementing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus.
The consensus reached in April 2021 by ASEAN and Myanmar’s military junta in Jakarta included the immediate cessation of violence and the appointment of a special envoy to help facilitate dialog among all parties.
The lack of cooperation from Myanmar authorities resulted in the exclusion of the Myanmar foreign from the ASEAN summit between May 6 and 11 in Labuan Bajo (Indonesia).
The Myanmar conflict will be at the top of the agenda.
The former UN chief supported the international calls for the immediate release by the Myanmar military of all arbitrarily detained prisoners for constructive dialog and utmost restraint from all parties.
More than 3,400 people have died, 1.3 million fled their homes, and some 16,000 remain in prison since the coup, which ended a decade of democratic transition and plunged the country into a spiral of violence and semi-anarchy. EFE
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