repost from http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=415

Sep 06, 2007 (DVB)—UN special advisor on Burma Ibrahim Gambari told reporters in New York yesterday that the military’s recent crackdown on peaceful protests represented a significant political setback.

Gambari also called on the military to release the hundreds of activists detained for participating in peaceful protests over fuel and commodity price rises in the past two weeks and to immediately release all other political prisoners.

“These incidents of recent times cannot be seen in any other way than a setback for [Burma],” Gambari said.

“They are all the more disappointing as they not only have the effect of calling into question the stated commitment to democratisation and national reconciliation by the authorities, but also make it more difficult to maintain support . . . for engagement with Burma . . .,” he said.

Gambari also said that there was still time for the government to prove its claim of a commitment to democracy by allowing open and inclusive discussions on the country’s draft constitution produced by the National Convention.

“We strongly believe that there should be opportunities in the period ahead to improve on the outcome of the document of this Convention in ways that are more inclusive, more participatory and more transparent,” Gambari said.

The UN envoy also said that some of the provisions listed in the draft constitution “would seemingly run counter to the objectives of national reconciliation and democratisation.”

Reporting by DVB