Ex-U.N. envoy slams Myanmar's junta, says hopes thin for democracy

Kuala Lumpur (dpa) - Former United Nations special envoy to Myanmar (Burma) Razali Ismail said Tuesday that hopes for democracy in the country would continue to be stalled, blaming the military junta's penchant for "dodging and stone-walling" international pressure for the lack of progress.
Razali, a veteran Malaysian diplomat, said his U.N. contract expired on January 3, and he decided not to get it renewed after he has been refused entry into the Myanmar for nearly two years.

"I will absolutely not be involved in any further efforts to bring reconciliation between the pro-democracy forces and the junta.

"Perhaps as an individual with a heart for the country, I might, but in terms of further involvement through the U.N. I don't see any reason to anymore," Razali told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Razali was appointed a special envoy of the U.N. Secretary General in April 2000 on a contract renewable every six months.

During his term, he managed to help secure pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's release after 19 months of house arrest in May 2002, and successfully helped mediate a dialogue between the junta and Suu Kyi in October 2000.

However, hopes for democratic change were stalled when Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest again in May 2003. Her house arrest was extended by six months in November

"Progress has not been made towards any reconciliation. If there used to be any, that has now snapped with (Suu Kyi's) continued house arrest.

"What possibility is there of further progress?" said Razali.

"Still, there is no frustration as this was, after all, a noble effort."

Razali said the U.N. would need to find a replacement and further the efforts to bring political reconciliation in Myanmar, but cautioned that the military junta was "good at dodging things and stonewalling".

"We have been dealing with these people for a very long time now. We are familiar with their ways," he said.

In December 2005, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations forced Myanmar to open its doors to a visit by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar to monitor the progress of the promised reforms.

However, the junta has said it was postponing Syed Hamid's visit because it is busy with relocating its capital from Yangon (Rangoon) to Pyinmanar, a town 320 kilometers (200 miles) to the north. No date has been set for a visit.

dpa jy jh