Myanmar: A dangerous setback, a premeditated
action
that has jeopardized hopes for a future
dialogue, says Boniver
(Translation from the original Italian version)
Media Release
Rome, 2 June--The
measures taken against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi by the Burmese
military junta are "a dangerous setback" and "according to
Western observers, it was an action that was planned well beforehand,"
said Margherita Boniver,
Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Italy.
She said Aung San Suu Kyi, "the Nobel Peace laureate, who had been touring
Burma since last
month, found a growing number of supporters waiting for her wherever she
visited... it obviously had the junta, which has controlled the country with an
iron fist, extremely worried." She added that any attempt to encourage the
junta to engage in a serious dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the
National League for Democracy (NLD), at this juncture will be futile.
The Undersecretary said a European Troika was planning to visit Rangoon when Italy assumes the
Presidency with the aim of persuading the junta to release all political
prisoners and to engage in a serious dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi.
"But, if NLD leaders are not released the visit will probably be
cancelled," she said.
According to Western observers, an organization sponsored by the military junta
had purposely provoked the scuffles so that action can be taken against Aung
San Suu Kyi following the clashes.
European and American Ambassadors (in Rangoon) have requested
a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of the NLD party but their requests
have been denied so far.
"We need to closely monitor the developments in this country ruled by a
brutal dictatorship," said Margherita Boniver.
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