By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 25 -- Myanmar's still largely military government was garnering praise from UN Secretary General and his envoy Vijay Nambiar well before the current changes. But now Ban and Nambiar are "all in," and headed this week to the country, by way of India.

  Monday at the UN just after Ban formally announced the trip, Inner City Press asked him: 

 

"Aung San Suu Kyi says that there is a standoff between National League for Democracy (NLD) members and the military-created constitution. What is your view of that? Also, of the Kachin area where people were not allowed to vote in this most recent election - are you going to look at that while you are there?"

  Ban replied that "I have taken note of what President Thein Sein said about this matter;" his full answer is below. But on Tuesday the UN invited some media -- not the Press -- to hear and report more from Nambiar, for example on whether the NLD should be required to swear to "safeguard" the Army created constitution:

"I think there is wisdom on both sides to get through this," Nambiar said. "I can't see them going through elections and not solving this."

  It is understand that Nambiar has neither received nor even sought any assurances from the Burmese government on this, however. Some of the resulting stories said Nambiar "is" Ban's chief of staff, which is not the case; he has been replaced by the Argentine Susana Malcorra.

  Meanwhile, for Ban's first stop in India, Ban himself spoke with Indian media, saying for example "I hope such progress will be accelerated to meet the expectations of many member states including India." Beyond this, Ban was portrayed apparently without subsequently complaint or correction as favoring a Permanent seat on the Security Council for India, an issue of which he is not in charge.

  In fact, when asked why he accepts an alleged war criminal, Sri Lankan General Shavendra Silva, as one of his senior advisers on peacekeeping, Ban told Inner City Press it is up to member states. Isn't that true of Security Council reform?

We will be covering this trip, despite this from Ban's Secretariat 

 

"Thank you for your interest in participating in the Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to Myanmar. The response was overwhelming. Unfortunately we are unable to offer your organization a place at this time. Thank you again for your interest, and we hope you will have another opportunity to travel with the Secretary-General. As no official announcement has been made about this visit, we ask that you do not report on it until an official announcement has been made."

  Done and done. Here's from Ban's April 23 Press encounter:

Inner City Press: At least one question on Myanmar? Aung San Suu Kyi says that there is a standoff between National League for Democracy (NLD) members and the military-created constitution. What is your view of that? Also, of the Kachin area where people were not allowed to vote in this most recent election - are you going to look at that while you are there? 

 

S-G Ban Ki-moon: First of all, about the first part of your question. I sincerely hope that they will be able to find a mutually agreeable, harmonious way to have smooth proceedings of this Parliament. They have gone through very historic by-elections recently that was reflected by the will of the Myanmar people. I have taken note of what President Thein Sein said about this matter and I hope that they will be able to find a resolution on this issue harmoniously for the further democratization of their country. 

 

On the second part of your question, I am encouraged by all of the recent movement in trying to reconcile with the ethnic groups, particularly with the Karen National Union. I hope that the same will be emulated by the Kachin group. All in all, it is important that Myanmar authorities reach out and reconcile with all the groups for their smooth transition towards a further and fuller democratization process. I will have many opportunities of discussing this matter, starting with President Thein Sein, to Aung San Suu Kyi, to speakers of Parliament. I will have another opportunity of engaging the ministers and economic and social-related leaders there. Thank you very much. Thank you.

We'll see. Watch this site.