TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Myanmar Wants Ranking U.N. Diplomat To Leave

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2007

BANGKOK, Thailand - Myanmar's military government ordered the expulsion of the top U.N. diplomat in the country Friday in response to the envoy's criticism of the regime.

The move came a day before U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari was to return to Myanmar to continue promoting reconciliation between the junta and the country's pro-democracy movement, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

The United States condemned the expulsion of U.N. Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie.

"This outrageous action ... is an insult to the United Nations and the international community," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.

The junta gave a note to foreign diplomats and U.N. representatives that accused Petrie of going beyond his duties and "expressed the government's intention not to continue his assignment here," United Nations Information Center spokesman Aye Win said from Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

Petrie, like other U.N. officials and diplomats, serves in Myanmar only with the consent of its government and was not expected to stay without an invitation.

His office said on Oct. 24 that Myanmar's government was not meeting the economic and humanitarian needs of its people, and that was the cause of September's mass pro-democracy protests, which were violently put down by the government.

"The concerns of the people have been clearly expressed through the recent peaceful demonstrations, and it is beholden on all to listen," the office said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT