Picture: Ibrahim Gambari leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after talks with Hor Namhong.
Friday, November 30, 2007AP
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Myanmar's ruling military junta should be given incentives to find a democratic solution to its political crisis, Cambodia's foreign minister said Thursday after meeting a U.N. special envoy to the country."We should not talk about sanctions but we'd better talk about how to take the momentum forward and prevent the situation from sliding backward," Hor Namhong told reporters after his meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. secretary general's envoy to Myanmar.Hor Namhong said Cambodia supports Gambari, who has been allowed to visit Myanmar twice since the military's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in September.The international community should encourage Myanmar's rulers to continue holding talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Hor Namhong said.Gambari said he had a frank and useful discussion with the foreign minister, but did not elaborate.Gambari's visit is part of his tour through Southeast Asia to encourage Myanmar's neighbors to promote reconciliation between the junta and the pro-democracy movement.After Myanmar's September crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, Cambodia joined countries around the world in calling for the junta to halt its violence and embrace democracy. Prime Minister Hun Sen also called for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations - which includes Myanmar and Cambodia - to play a more active role in resolving the crisis.Gambari was scheduled to leave Cambodia on Friday.On the same day, Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein is to arrive to hold talks with Hun Sen and leaders of Cambodia's parliament.Hor Namhong said the timing of the two visits to Cambodia was coincidental.Myanmar, also known as Burma, sparked global outrage in September when the country's ruling military junta crushed pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 15 people. Nearly 3,000 were arrested, most of whom have been released, according to the junta.During Gambari's visit to Myanmar, the junta assured him that political arrests would stop, but more were reported after he left.Amnesty International said the junta has arrested a dozen activists and Buddhist monks this month.The U.N. envoy visited Vietnam earlier this week and is scheduled to travel to Laos after leaving Cambodia.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Myanmar's ruling military junta should be given incentives to find a democratic solution to its political crisis, Cambodia's foreign minister said Thursday after meeting a U.N. special envoy to the country."We should not talk about sanctions but we'd better talk about how to take the momentum forward and prevent the situation from sliding backward," Hor Namhong told reporters after his meeting with Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. secretary general's envoy to Myanmar.Hor Namhong said Cambodia supports Gambari, who has been allowed to visit Myanmar twice since the military's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in September.The international community should encourage Myanmar's rulers to continue holding talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Hor Namhong said.Gambari said he had a frank and useful discussion with the foreign minister, but did not elaborate.Gambari's visit is part of his tour through Southeast Asia to encourage Myanmar's neighbors to promote reconciliation between the junta and the pro-democracy movement.After Myanmar's September crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, Cambodia joined countries around the world in calling for the junta to halt its violence and embrace democracy. Prime Minister Hun Sen also called for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations - which includes Myanmar and Cambodia - to play a more active role in resolving the crisis.Gambari was scheduled to leave Cambodia on Friday.On the same day, Myanmar Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein is to arrive to hold talks with Hun Sen and leaders of Cambodia's parliament.Hor Namhong said the timing of the two visits to Cambodia was coincidental.Myanmar, also known as Burma, sparked global outrage in September when the country's ruling military junta crushed pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks, killing at least 15 people. Nearly 3,000 were arrested, most of whom have been released, according to the junta.During Gambari's visit to Myanmar, the junta assured him that political arrests would stop, but more were reported after he left.Amnesty International said the junta has arrested a dozen activists and Buddhist monks this month.The U.N. envoy visited Vietnam earlier this week and is scheduled to travel to Laos after leaving Cambodia.
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