Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in Myanmar, the French Ambassador to the UN, Jean Maurice Ripert on September 18 called on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to put more pressure on the country’s ruling junta. Speaking to reporters in New York, Mr. Ripert noted that France rejected unilateral decision of the authorities to hold the referendum on a draft constitution held in May earlier this year. He also offered conditional support for the diplomatic efforts of Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy on Myanmar, who visited the country last month without achieving any tangible results1.

Meanwhile, the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) on September 16 called for dialogue between the junta and the opposition. Speaking at the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Rangoon, CRPP Secretary Aye Thar Aung stated that dialogue was the only solution for change in Myanmar. The CRPP dismissed the junta’s plans for a 2010 general election and urged the international community to pressure the regime to engage in dialogue. It also criticized the military government’s “seven-step road map,” and termed as illegal the national convention, state constitution and national referendum as they were conducted against the will of the people2.

• 1. “UN Should Put More Pressure on Burma: France,” Irrawaddy, September 20, 2008, at http://www.irrawaddymedia.com/article.php?art_id=14282
• 2. “Dialogue, Not Elections: CRPP,” Irrawaddy, September 17, 2008, at http://www.irrawaddymedia.com/article.php?art_id=14274