UNITED NATIONS, September 27, 2010 -- On Burma, after his Group of Friends on Myanmar met on Monday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon took two questions about the meeting.
Inner City Press asked for his views of the call by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar for a commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity by the Than Shwe regime, and if his envoy and chief of staff Vijay Nambiar is able to even get into Myanmar.
Ban Ki-moon said he has no comment on the question of crimes against humanity in Myanmar. He said that Nambiar -- who stood near him at the stakeout -- is not able to get into the country, and he regret it. As he spoke, Nambiar left the stakeout.
UK Minister Burt, who it was said might speak after the meeting, left during Mr. Ban's remarks.
Earlier Inner City Press asked the UK Foreign Minister about Myanmar -- he called it Burma -- and he issued some strong criticism.
So did US State Department PJ Crowley last week, but on Monday here's what Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said:
Question: A couple of Security Council members, including at times the U.S., have called for a U.N. panel of inquiry into war crimes committed in Burma. And a lot of people have said this can't happen until after the election. Is that a possibility the U.S. is considering, when you talk about new relationships after the balloting?
Campbell: Yes, I don't think I'll have very much to say on that issue at this time. I think what we have tried to indicate is that we have not ruled anything out, either on this issue or others, including sanctions on the way forward. We are looking at what transpires in November, in terms of the way forward. And we reserve the right to take steps either to respond to positive steps or negative ones.
Inner City Press is told, diplomatically, that while Myanmar wasn't formally invited, it was told it could attend if it asked to. It did not -- why should it? Here is the UN's transcript of Inner City Press' Q & A with Mr. Ban:
Inner City Press: The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar has called for a Commission of Inquiry into possible crimes against humanity by the Government of Myanmar. Several of the Friends have also supposedly joined that call. What do you think of that call? And, also, is your Chief of Staff, Vijay Nambiar, is he able to get into Myanmar, if he so requests? And if so, why hasn't he gone?
SG Ban: I have taken note of that report – this is the report of a Special Rapporteur that I have just taken note of. This is something which needs to be decided, determined by the Member States. I do not have any comment at this time on that particular point.
Inner City Press: What about your Chief of Office being able to visit the country or not, can he visit or not?
SG: We have been trying to visit, somehow this year, it has not been possible. I expressed my regret about that fact.
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