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On Myanmar, Ban "Notes" Thein Sein Oath Demand, Answers Kachin w/ Karen

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 -- Reform in Myanmar was ostensibly the topic when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke to the press on Monday. He made public that he will go visit the country at the end of the week -- his Office has already chosen which reporters can go witness this trip -- and praised Thein Sein. Then his deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey said a few questions would be taken.

The first question chosen was on Syria; Ban said he spoke with Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari on Friday, and that Ja'afari would go to Damascus to convey Ban's views on air assets. At the same time Ja'afari was speaking two blocks away in the Security Council, denouncing Ban and Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe for not mentioning the Golan Heights in their Middle East presentation.

The second question was a soft ball on North Korea, the same question Inner City Press had asked Del Buey at noon without getting an answer. This time, Ban urged Pyongyang to comply with Security Council resolution.

That's it, Del Buey indicated. Inner City Press asked, "Question on Myanmar?" Then Inner City Press asked about Aung San Suu Kyi declining to take the seat she won in Parliament, not wanting to have to taken an oath to "safeguard" the Army-created constitution.

Ban said he "took note" of Thein Sein's position -- which is that the oath will be required -- and hopes for a "harmonious solution."

Inner City Press also asked about the Karen areas where voting was not even allowed. Ban answerd about another group, the Karen, adding that he hoped the Karen get the same treatment.

Ban said he will have opportunities while in Myanmar. But how will he be covered? When Inner City Press became aware Ban might travel to Myanmar, it responded with a request to cover the trip. Last week Ban's office replied six day ago on April 18:

"Thank you for your interest in participating in the Secretary-General's forthcoming visit to Myanmar. The response was overwhelming. Unfortunately we are unable to offer your organization a place at this time. Thank you again for your interest, and we hope you will have another opportunity to travel with the Secretary-General. As no official announcement has been made about this visit, we ask that you do not report on it until an official announcement has been made."

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These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

Click here for Sept 26, 2011 New Yorker on Inner City Press at UN

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