Ban ‘Disappointed’ with Junta

By LALIT K KHA / UNITED NATIONS

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday expressed his deep "disappointment" over the unwillingness of the Burmese military junta to listen to the world community’s calls to reestablish democracy in the country.

"I am disappointed by the unwillingness of the government of Myanmar [Burma] to deliver on its promises for democratic dialogue and the release of political prisoners," Ban said during the course of his year-ending press conference at the UN headquarters in New York.

The UN secretary-general’s statement came as a disappointment to many pro-democracy Burmese groups in the US, who were expecting that Ban would mobilize the international community against the junta.

“Just speaking of your disappointment with the regime from New York does not achieve anything,” said Aung Din, the executive director of US Campaign for Burma.

"Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is mandated by the General Assembly to help facilitate democratic change in Burma and if he cannot do so, he should ask the Security Council to intervene in Burma before it is too late," he said.

Ban, who was scheduled to go to Burma this month, has postponed his visit by stating that he would go to the country only when he is assured that his visit would yield tangible results.