UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged the Burmese junta to make its national reconciliation process “transparent and participatory” involving all sections of the society.
The statement comes as Burma’s National Convention began its final session to draw up guidelines for a new constitution.
Expected to last about two months, the convention is the first step in a "seven-step road map to democracy" proposed by the military junta. Pro-democracy advocates have not been included in the process, because their leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest.
A statement issued by the UN said the secretary-general is closely following the constitution drafting process.
“The secretary-general takes note of the resumption today of Myanmar’s [Burma's] National Convention for its final session, as announced by the Government of Myanmar, and is closely following developments,” said the statement.
Ban Ki-moon said the Burmese government should seize this opportunity to ensure that the subsequent steps in Burma’s political roadmap are as inclusive, participatory and transparent as possible.
He said the process should allow all political parties and ethnic groups to fully contribute to defining the country’s future.
Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to be briefed this week by his special adviser on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari.
Gambari has just returned from a tour of China, India and Japan where he held discussions on the issue of Burma.
“Gambari had detailed and open discussions on how best the United Nations and the countries he visited can continue to work together to support Myanmar's efforts in implementing relevant General Assembly resolutions,” a UN spokesperson told The Irrawaddy.
The UN is expected to announce a date for Gambari's next visit to Burma soon after the submission of his report.
The statement comes as Burma’s National Convention began its final session to draw up guidelines for a new constitution.
Expected to last about two months, the convention is the first step in a "seven-step road map to democracy" proposed by the military junta. Pro-democracy advocates have not been included in the process, because their leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest.
A statement issued by the UN said the secretary-general is closely following the constitution drafting process.
“The secretary-general takes note of the resumption today of Myanmar’s [Burma's] National Convention for its final session, as announced by the Government of Myanmar, and is closely following developments,” said the statement.
Ban Ki-moon said the Burmese government should seize this opportunity to ensure that the subsequent steps in Burma’s political roadmap are as inclusive, participatory and transparent as possible.
He said the process should allow all political parties and ethnic groups to fully contribute to defining the country’s future.
Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to be briefed this week by his special adviser on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari.
Gambari has just returned from a tour of China, India and Japan where he held discussions on the issue of Burma.
“Gambari had detailed and open discussions on how best the United Nations and the countries he visited can continue to work together to support Myanmar's efforts in implementing relevant General Assembly resolutions,” a UN spokesperson told The Irrawaddy.
The UN is expected to announce a date for Gambari's next visit to Burma soon after the submission of his report.
