UN's Gambari Is Not Sure to Meet Than Shwe, Myanmar Refugees Are Sold Out as Courtesy by UNHCR

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
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UNITED NATIONS, January 30 -- The UN on January 30 confirmed that envoy Ibrahim Gambari is traveling to Myanmar from January 31 through February 4. What they would not say, however, is who Gambari will meet with. Inner City Press asked if, unlike Gambari's last trip, he has an appointment with regime strongman Than Shwe. UN Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe said only, senior government officials. But how senior?

Earlier in the month, Inner City Press asked for the UN's response to the National League for Democracy, that they will not discuss the planned 2010 election without discussion the 2008 constitution, adopted during the chaos after Cyclone Nargis. The UN does not want to answer that question publicly. Perhaps it will be like Gambari's last trip, with embarrassing questions piling up while the UN remain silent.

This is a pattern with the UN. Agence France Presse of January 30 reports that the UN's refugee agency UNHCR refused to comment on the condition of teenage refugees from Myanmar held in Thailand, out of "courtesy" to Thailand's government. Inner City Press asked Ms. Okabe to confirm or deny the AFP account. Ms. Okabe said, you have yesterdays' hand-out. Yes, but is the AFP not true? Does UNHCR decline to tell the truth out of courtesy to governments? It wouldn't be the first time.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undpa1myanmar013009.html