Ban Ki-moon decided to travel to Myanmar following a briefing by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who made a two-day preparatory visit to Myanmar last week. Gambari did not meet with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently facing court over charges of violating her house arrest order after an American swam to her lakeside residence earlier this year. If convicted she faces a five year jail term. She was due for release from house arrest late last month.

Her trial has been widely criticized and triggered increased pressure on Myanmar’s military to release Suu Kyi, who is also leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD).

A UN spokeswoman said Ban Ki-moon hoped to press for the resumption of dialogue between the government and the opposition as well as for ‘credible’ general elections next year.

The issue of political prisoners

Aung Zaw, editor of The Irrawaddy news magazine run by the Burmese opposition in exile, says while many don't expect a breakthrough from Mr. Ban’s visit, the UN Secretary General needs to be firm in pressing the military toward reform.

“He has to be very firm: first the release of all political prisoners – not Aung San Suu Kyi alone; then make the road map inclusive. That’s the most important thing, and also we need a holistic approach: You have to look at the humanitarian crisis, you have to look at political issues, you have to look at political prisoners.”

Aung Zaw said if agreement was reached on the release of political prisoners a time frame should be put in place and that release within a year “would be very good”. Human rights groups say Myanmar’s military government is holding more than 2,000 political prisoners in jails across the country.

An 'ultimatum' required

Debbie Stothardt, a spokesperson for the right’s group, the Alternative ASEAN Network, said Mr. Ban should demand that Myanmar release the political prisoners or face further action by the international community:

“Now is the time for the UN to deliver an ultimatum that has the endorsement of China and of all the other stakeholders in the international community – that they should release not just Aung San Suu Kyi but all political prisoners; have a constitutional review and move forward ensuring that any election – whether it’s in 2010 or later -- is free and fair.”

Ban travelled to Myanmar last year after the devastating cyclone Nargis. Diplomats say he is staking a great deal of his office and the UN on a successful outcome from the upcoming two-day visit. Ban Ki-moon is set to arrive in Myanmar on Friday, the same day the trial against Aung San Suu Kyi will be resumed.

Author: Ron Corben(Bangkok)
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein