U.N. envoy meets Myanmar's opposition leader, but not junta chief as troops lock down Yangon | Deseret News
U.N. envoy meets Myanmar's opposition leader, but not junta chief as troops lock down Yangon
Published: September 30, 2007 12:00 am Updated: Sept. 30, 2007 10:15 a.m.
YANGON, Myanmar  Myanmar's government unexpectedly allowed the country's leading opposition figure, Aung San Suu Kyi, to leave house arrest briefly on Sunday and meet with a U.N. envoy trying to persuade the junta to ease its crackdown against a pro-democracy uprising.
The demonstrations seeking to end 45 years of military dictatorship drew international attention after thousands of Buddhist monks joined in. At the height of the protests, some 70,000 people turned out, but were crushed on Wednesday and Thursday when government troops opened fire into the crowds.
A U.N. statement said Ibrahim Gambari met Sunday with the acting prime minister, the deputy foreign minister and the ministers of information and culture. While these officials have senior positions in the ruling coterie, the final say in all decisions rests with junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, and to some extent Deputy Senior Gen. Maung Aye.
Gambari "looks forward to meeting ... Than Shwe," before he leaves the region, a U.N. statement said.
Gambari's efforts began on Saturday when he came from Singapore to Yangon and was immediately flown to Naypyitaw. After his meetings Sunday, he returned to Yangon and was whisked to the State Guest House to meet Suu Kyi, who was brought out of house arrest to see him in what appeared to be an unexpected concession by the junta.
Gambari and Suu Kyi met for over an hour, the U.N. statement said, but gave no details.
"I think the chance of protesters coming to the road and mobilizing enough people to topple the junta is zero," he said.
"We are not going to protest any more. Rather we will conduct peaceful protests. We Buddhists believe that dhamma (Buddha's teachings) will finally win over evil," said one monk.
People suspected of leading or organizing the rallies continue to be arrested, the Asian diplomat said, estimating the total number could be as high as 1,000, including several prominent members of the NLD. They joined an estimated 1,100 other political detainees who have languished in jails since before the current turmoil began Aug. 19 with protests against fuel price increases.
Monks and residents spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals.
"We apologize to foreigners for feeling unsafe ... People in this country are very nice and gentle, but the soldiers are very rough," said one resident.
A resident who identified himself as Ko Hla wrote on his Internet blog that troops in downtown Yangon were searching every bag. "If someone got caught with a camera in it, they would arrest him. They arrested anyone that they suspect," he wrote.
The crackdown has triggered unprecedented criticism of Myanmar's generals from almost every corner of the world  even some from China, the country's chief trading partner, which urged the ruling junta to "exercise restraint and use peaceful means to restore its stability as soon as possible."
But China, India and Russia do not seem prepared to go beyond words in dealing with the junta, ruling out sanctions as they jostle for a chance to get at Myanmar's bountiful and largely untapped natural resources, especially its oil and gas.
"I want to express my spiritual closeness to the dear population in this moment of the very painful trial it is going through," he said.
Worshippers at Yangon's Catholic churches read posted bulletins from its hierarchy stating that priests, brothers and nuns were not to become involved in the monthlong protests, but that lay Catholics could act as they saw fit.