Myanmar Expelled UN diplomat Charles Petrie

Nov 03: In a displeasing manner Myanmar junta expelled United Nations diplomat Charles Petrie, after his statement which urged military junta to pay attention to the voice of protesters and also warned for the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

On Friday, at the capital Naypyidaw, the junta handed statement to the diplomat ordering his expulsion from the country.

The letter said “The government of the Union of Myanmar does not want Petrie to continue to serve in Myanmar, especially at this time when the cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations is crucial”.

This move has been condemned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who in a statement said that he had instructed UN's special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to convey his views on the expulsion directly to the authorities.

Gambari was scheduled to visit Myanmar from Saturday to accelerate the process of reconciliation between the Myanmar junta and the protesters.

This incident was also criticised by the US government which speculated the planned visit of Gambari as a measure to check further humanitarian crisis in military ruled Myanmar.

While Petrie said that before giving comment on anything he wants to discuss it with Gambari.

He said, “Before any statement can be made, there needs to be consultation within the United Nations to gauge the implication for Gambari’s mission”.

Petrie informed that he had drafted the statement to “help trigger dialogue and consultation on the underlying causes for poverty.”

“Many of the issues that were raised over the last two months by monks and others were exactly the same issues that we were trying to raise for the last four to five years,” he added.

Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman said that junta should release the political prisoner, halt further detention, allow visits by International Committee of the Red Cross and also urged them to treat their people with dignity and respect. He said that it is troubling to mention the reports that said that junta has again cut internet access to people.

Earlier thousands of protesters went for a peace march against the government, asking for political change and restoration of democracy.

The massive protest by the Buddhist Monk was repressed in a brutal manner and was criticised all over the world.

The military junta under Than Shwe is reluctant in giving the post and entering in the dialogue with the pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is in house arrest since 8 years.

Myanmar with a history of military regime is facing crisis both economically and politically. But this incident has dispatched a message to the world community that they are still more reluctant in going through the peace process.