Even as the Myanmar military led State Administrative Council [SAC] shunned global leaders except for those from Russia and emissaries from some other countries in the region as China, India and the ASEAN, Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who is presently Deputy Chair of the Elders Group visited Myanmar on April 23 – 24 at the invitation of the SAC.
The Elders is an independent group founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007 and works for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet. Mary Robinson, a former President of Ireland is the head while there are other luminaries including Ban Ki Moon as members.
A press release by the Elders indicated that the aim of the visit was “to find a path to an end to violence and establishing a peaceful, democratic, inclusive and legitimate government”.
During the visit he met the military leaders and former President Thein Sein, “to discuss the situation, and emphasised the importance of all parties playing a role in securing a lasting solution, including the National Unity Government”.
"I came to Myanmar to urge the military to adopt an immediate cessation of violence, and start constructive dialogue among all parties concerned,” Ban Ki-moon said. “My meetings were exploratory. I will do all I can to help the people of Myanmar secure the peace, prosperity and freedom they deserve.”
The Elders Statement outlined that the visit was at the invitation of the Myanmar military. Some points stressed by Ban Ki Moon were progress on implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus and last December’s United Nations Security Council Resolution 2669.
He also supported, “the international community’s calls for the immediate release by the Myanmar military of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, for constructive dialogue, and for utmost restraint from all parties”.
Importantly Mr Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the air strikes in Sagaing region, estimated to have killed more than 160 civilians, including women and children.
Elections are to be held only if these are likely to be free and fair and devoid of violence so that the results are accepted by the people of Myanmar, ASEAN and the wider international community.
This should lead to transition to democracy said the statement which Mr Ban Ki Moon has supported as the UN Secretary General as well. Importantly Mr Moon did not ask for a meeting with Daw Aung Suu Kyi chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who is incarcerated for long years under various charges which are seen as politically motivated.
SAC Statement
In a brief statement on 24 Aprilv, Myawady.Net the official website of the SAC indicated that Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. “At the meeting, they cordially and positively discussed the latest development of the situation in Myanmar and exchanged their views on it,” said the SAC statement.
Others who attended the meeting included SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Defence General Mya Tun Oo and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe and together with the Deputy Chair of The Elders and former Secretary- General of the United Nations, Mr.KIM Bong Hyun, former Republic of Korea ambassador to Australia, and officials.
NUG Reaction to Visit
Post visit, acting president of Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government (NUG) condemned meeting of former UN chief Ban Ki-moon with the Myanmar regime leader as “unethical” and an attempt to “promote a bloody thug on the world stage.”
NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La said during a cabinet meeting that the meeting should be denounced as Ban was “promoting the thug [regime], which has been committing atrocities against its own people, on the international stage.” “I think it’s ethically incorrect,” he said as per the Irrawaddy. The NUG leaders has called for a punitive approach over the military junta as a conciliation is not expected to work given past experience.
Brief Assessment
The solution to the current situation in Myanmar lies in reconciliation between the SAC or the Myanmar military and the NUG which draws inspiration from the direction of Daw Aung Suu Kyi. At present both sides are unwilling for a dialogue.
Despite the resentment by the NUG and lack of contact with Daw Aung Suu Kyi, the visit of Mr Ban Ki Moon was an salutary attempt to open dialogue with the military junta which has been internationally as well as regionally reticent adopting an isolationist approach resistance attempts by the ASEAN and others for conciliation and dialogue.
Mr Ban ki Moon’s visit assumes importance due to the role that he has played in using his influence to work on the military in the past.
Moon has contacts with the military in the past junta led administration and whether he would be able to attempt a reconciliation at a time when violence is reaching new high remains to be seen. Ban travelled to Myanmar several times while UN secretary general and had varying degrees of success negotiating with the generals.
While the exploratory visit may not have an immediate impact, conveying to the military junta which has been deaf to demands of international and regional interlocutors assumes importance.