Asia Pacific

UN adviser finds Sri Lanka’s children ‘at risk from all sides’ in the bloody conflict

14 November 2006
Elements of Sri Lanka’s security forces are helping a breakaway rebel group abduct children to fight the separatist Tamil Tigers, while the rebels themselves continue to use child soldiers in their conflict against the Government, a United Nations adviser has said after a 10-day assessment mission to the strife-torn country.

UN official calls on Myanmar to release Suu Kyi; says ‘concrete actions’ expected

13 November 2006
The top United Nations political officer has delivered a letter to Myanmar’s rulers from Secretary-General Kofi Annan reiterating his call for the release of democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and stressing that the international community expects “concrete actions” from the Government in opening up the political process and other areas.
Amb. Kenzo Oshima (R) at press conference, Kabul

Taliban insurgency tops list of concerns as Security Council team arrives in Afghanistan

12 November 2006
With the Taliban insurgency posing a major problem for Afghanistan, the head of a Security Council mission there today pledged that the international community will stand by the country as it works to rebuild.
USG Ibrahim Gambari with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

UN official meets separately with Myanmar leaders, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

11 November 2006
The top United Nations political official held separate meetings today in Myanmar with government leaders as well as the most prominent member of the opposition: detained Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ancient Silk Road to get modern railway counterpart under UN-backed agreement

10 November 2006
A 50-year-old dream to forge a railway version of the famed Silk Road of old moved a step closer to realization today at a regional United Nations transport conference with the signing of an agreement to create an 81,000-kilometre network originating on the Pacific seaboard of Asia and ending up on the doorstep of Europe.

Timor-Leste: citing better security, top UN official calls on displaced to return home

10 November 2006
Nearly seven months after deadly violence forced around 155,000 people in Timor-Leste to flee to temporary camps, the top United Nations official in the tiny nation called today on these internally displaced persons (IDP) to return to their homes, citing a much-improved security situation thanks in part to the increased number of UN police.
Ibrahim Gambari, Political Affairs

Meeting Myanmar groups, UN’s top political officer discusses political process, aid

10 November 2006
Continuing his four-day visit to Myanmar, the top United Nations political officer today discussed transparency and the need to open up the political process to all the country’s people, in meetings with representatives from various ethnic and other groups taking part in the National Convention.

Sri Lanka: Annan stresses ‘urgent need’ to end spiralling violence, return to talks

10 November 2006
With the deadly conflict between Sri Lanka’s Government and Tamil Tiger separatists escalating dramatically this week, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today emphasized the “urgent need” to end the spiralling violence and called on both sides to immediately return to the peace process.
USG Jan Egeland

Sri Lanka: UN official calls on all sides to protect civilians after deadly army shelling

9 November 2006
The top United Nations relief official today called on all sides in the conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil separatist rebels to protect civilians after an army artillery bombardment yesterday hit a school sheltering 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), killing at least 23 people and wounding 135 others.

FAO: OPEC gives multi-million dollar loan boost to Myanmar’s edible oil sector

9 November 2006
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development has boosted Myanmar’s edible oil sector with $12.3 million loan to increase production, the United Nations food agency announced today.