BBC-UN push for Burmese democracy

[tinkyi@xxxxxxx]

Wednesday, October 28, 1998 Published at 02:51 GMT

World: Asia-Pacific

UN push for Burmese democracy

A senior United Nations envoy is holding talks in Burma with the government
and opposition about moves to restore democracy.

Alvaro de Soto started his visit with separate meetings with the Burmese
military government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

They are the first such talks since August when the Burmese government
refused a UN  request for high-level discussions on restoring democracy.

Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election in 1990 by
a large majority, but the military government refused to recognise the
result.

Since Burma joined the regional grouping Asean more than a year ago, the UN
has been trying to play a more active role in encouraging Burma's generals
to talk to Ms Suu Kyi.

Cash for concessions

Diplomats say the international community has been working on a road map to
democracy with a schedule of incentives that would be offered for
concessions by the ruling State Peace and Development Council.

Some estimates say the carrots available by way of financial assistance for
infrastructure development and humanitarian aid could be as much as a $1bn.

BBC Burma specialist Larry Jagan says the first concession would be talks
between the military government and the NLD at the lowest level.

These would pave the way for a genuine dialogue between the generals and Ms
Suu Kyi.
The problem facing the UN is how to kick-start the process.

One suggestion is for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to meet the head of
the military government, General Than Shwe, at the Association of South East
Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, in Hanoi in December.

The UN is hoping that Mr de Soto's visit will secure permission from Burma
for such a meeting.

No details have been released on the talks so far, but UN sources say Mr de
Soto has  gone to Rangoon with concrete proposals to discuss with both
sides.

Toughened sanctions

Mr de Soto's four-day visit started a day after the European Union toughened
existing sanctions against Burma in an attempt to get the generals to
improve the country's human rights record and encourage democratic change.

Sanctions adopted two years ago already include the expulsion of military
personnel attached to Rangoon's diplomatic missions in the EU, an arms
embargo, a ban on entry visas for the country's leaders and the suspension
of non-humanitarian aid and of high-level
government visits.

On Monday the EU widened the visa ban toinclude transit visas and extended
it to cover Burmese tourism officials.