Activists’ Prison Sentences Setback for UN

By LALIT K JHA / United Nations

The sentencing of pro-democracy activists, from two to 65 years, by special prison courts in Burma last week is a major setback to UN-led initiatives to restore democracy and protect human rights.

The harsh sentences come at a time when top UN officials have been negotiating with the junta on the timing of the next visit of the special UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, and the agenda expectations for such a trip.

Diplomats said the junta also has failed to respond to requests to institutionalize talks with the UN in which mid-level UN diplomats would visit Burma to hold discussions with Burmese counterparts at regular intervals. At least two letters requesting such a move were sent after Gambari's last trip to Burma in August, with no response so far.

With the latest harsh prison sentences, observers at UN headquarters in New York acknowledged that it will be difficult to proceed further since the junta has left little or no scope for negotiations. It is unlikely that the junta would accede to any of the requests to normalize relations with the political opposition.

While the UN is yet to decide on Gambari's next visit, some in the UN feel that another visit by the special envoy would be a fruitless exercise and have suggested his visit be postponed.

At the same time, another group argues for Gambari's visit if only to keep open the door to negotiations. Cancelling or postponing the trip at this point would only push the country into more political isolation and is not going to help the cause of the pro-democracy movement or the people of Burma, they argue.