Wild Wild East defies west

 

 

The worsening situation in Myanmar and the inability of the United Nations to bring the military junta to the negotiating table for the restoration of democracy amply vindicates the failure of the United Nations to work as a key interlocutor and is also the testimony of decreasing leverage of this institution which is already past its heyday. While Charles Petrie, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, was expelled earlier this month for his alleged statement holding the mismanagement of the military junta government responsible for the unprecedented poverty in the country. While the UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, claimed success in having met the now legendary Aung San Suu Kyi and made her issue a statement in which she agreed to work with the military junta leadership in the greater interest of the country, the fact that Ibrahim Gambari was refused a meeting with General Than Shwe showed how much weightage the Myanmarese leadership actually gives to such UN endeavours.



FACTFILE

UN Humanitarian Coordinator expelled earlier this month.

Suu Kyi to work with junta.

China's reluctance to push for democracy in Myanmar is cause for concern.



This incidentally happened even when the UN Secretary General was pinning all his hopes on Ibrahim Gambari. On November 2, the spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary General had stated in a press release, "The Secretary-General is disappointed by the message from the Government of Myanmar stating that it would not want the Resident Coordinator, Charles Petrie, to continue to serve in Myanmar." It further stated, "The Secretary-General has instructed the Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, to convey his views directly to the authorities when he visits the country beginning tomorrow, Nov 3."

While the willingness of Suu Kyi to work with the military junta might give impetus for renewed efforts to bring peace in Myanmar, it is for sure that the efforts of the United Nations are not good enough to carry on the process. Among the two other options, while any unilateral military action by the United States might not be the best course, China’s reluctance, on the other hand, to play a greater role in the restoration of democracy in Myanmar is a sure cause of concern. Eventually, it is perhaps the common man, out on the streets of Myanmar, who is paying the price of the geo-political game of chess that the global majors are busy playing while the junta continues with its anarchy right under the nose of the drum-beaters of harmony.