23 August 2007

Secretary- General SG/SM/11130

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

concerned over myanmar arrests, Secretary-General calls for restraint, dialogue

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11130.doc.htm

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is following events in Myanmar closely and with concern, particularly in light of reports that student leaders and others have been arrested by the authorities.  In the spirit of the efforts of mutual engagement being pursued by the United Nations and Myanmar in the context of his good offices, the Secretary-General calls on the authorities to exercise maximum restraint in responding to any demonstrations, and encourages all parties to avoid any provocative action.  He calls for a constructive dialogue towards national reconciliation at this important time in Myanmar’s history.

See also

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23585&Cr=myanmar&Cr1=

Myanmar: Ban Ki-moon calls for ‘constructive dialogue’ following arrests

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

23 August 2007 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that he is following events in Myanmar closely and with concern following reports of arrests of student leaders and others by the authorities in the South-East Asian nation.

“In the spirit of the efforts of mutual engagement being pursued by the United Nations and Myanmar in the context of his good offices, the Secretary-General calls on the authorities to exercise maximum restraint in responding to any demonstrations and encourages all parties to avoid any provocative action,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The Secretary-General also called for “constructive dialogue towards national reconciliation at this important time in Myanmar’s history.”

Earlier this month, Mr. Ban’s Special Adviser on Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari held talks with government officials in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, while in June, he toured Asia and Europe.