Thai, UN advocate more int engagement for Myanmar reconciliation

Bangkok, Nov 16 (UNI) More international engagement is essential to promote national reconciliation in Myanmar, Thailand and the United Nations agreed today.

After a meeting here this afternoon, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram agreed that this was ''the only way to achieve national reconciliation in Myanmar''.

''Both sides agreed that the only way to achieve national reconciliation in Myanmar is to enhance the engagement of all parties concerned in Myanmar issue which include Thailand and other ASEAN members as well as the international community and international organisations,'' noted a press statement issued after the meeting by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Pinheiro who is in Thailand after a five-day mission to Myanmar, expressed his appreciation to Myanmar authorities for allowing him to meet and interview several political detainees, monks and protestors.

The UN envoy emphasised that his visit to Myanmar was ''not a fact finding mission'' but meant to ''gather useful information to be included in a report which would be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council''.

The Thai foreign minister told the UN representative that Bangkok was committed to work with the UN and regional bodies, specially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to promote political reconciliation in Myanmar.

Mr Nitya pointed out that ASEAN, which includes Thailand, was ready to support the Myanmar government in every way to help restore peace in the country.

UNI