OneWorld.net (U.S.)

31/10/2007

More than a month since the end of demonstrations and clashes with security forces, around a hundred monks returned on the streets today in the city of Pakokku, in central Myanmar.

In Pakokku (600km north-west of the capital Yangon), first protests had taken off between August and the start of September against hikes in the cost of living then transforming into a large-scale uprising in Yangon and other areas against the military junta in power since 1962.

Today’s demonstration, on which it is difficult to find verifiable sources, comes days ahead of the return to Myanmar of the United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari on a reconciliation mission wanted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. According to some sources, the UN envoy may already arrive in the country over the weekend.

In the past weeks Gambari held talks with the governments of various neighbouring nations and on his first visit to Myanmar established contacts with the military junta leader Than Shwe and opposition democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On October 25 Suu Kyi met with Labour Minister Aung Kyi, appointed by the junta to restore dialogue with the opposition leader, who has been under house arrest for four years; the TV aired some footage of the talks.

The request for the appointing of a delegate for talks with the opposition leader was proposed by Gambari and accepted by the regime.