3 replies to this topic

[Garcia]

"The military government and opposition parties in Burma have agreed to hold "meaningful and substantive" talks to resolve the political crisis, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said. Ban said he had been briefed by his special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who returned to New York this past weekend from a six-day visit to Burma aimed at convincing the military junta to agree to democratic reforms to ease a crisis triggered by pro-democracy demonstrations.

"As a result of this visit, a process has been launched that will hopefully lead to a meaningful and substantive dialogue with concrete outcomes within an agreed timeframe," Ban said in a statement.

"The secretary general welcomes the willingness expressed by both sides to work with the United Nations to this end," the statement said. The president of the UN General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim, added his support to the reported agreement to start dialogue.

Kerim said he "welcomes the inauguration of a process that may lead to substantive and unconditional dialogue among the main parties." He stressed the importance that this process must achieve "concrete results and a clear commitment" on the part of the government of Burma to work constructively with Gambari."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=123522

[Hedda]

One has to wonder if this readiness to engage in talks is just another ploy to stall until the world loses interest. Remember, it's taken these generals 17 years to draft a new constitution since they refused to let Aung San Suu Kyi take office after the last elections, and it's still not done.

It's even possible that the Chinese have suggested to the Burmese generals that talks can go nowhere but still serve a purpose - until the Olympis are over next year. It sounds cyniical, but when you look at what China has been doing to the Tibetan buddhists and monks for the past 40 years, what makes you think the Chinese leaders care what the generals do to Buddhists in Burma, especially once the Olympics are over.

BOYCOTT THE CHINA OLYMPICS !

[DollyLamma]

Sorry to say, I do not trust anything the Burma generals say or do, nor do the Chinese or Thais give a hoot how badly the Burmese people are suffering. They are interested in making money and they don't care how they do it.

[DollyLamma]

Sorry to say, I do not trust anything the Burma generals say or do, nor do the Chinese or Thais give a hoot how badly the Burmese people are suffering. They are interested in making money and they don't care how they do it.

BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS NOW !!!!!