Asia Pacific

Ibrahim Gambari

Pro-democracy leader ready to cooperate with Myanmar authorities – UN envoy

8 November 2007
Detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi today stated her readiness to cooperate with the Myanmar Government as United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari wrapped up a visit to the troubled Asian nation by voicing confidence that substantive dialogue between authorities and the opposition can begin soon.
Louise Arbour

Perpetrators of Afghan suicide attack must be brought to justice – UN rights chief

7 November 2007
The top United Nations human rights official has condemned yesterday’s bombing in northern Afghanistan, calling on authorities in the strife-torn nation to bring those responsible for the attack which left at least 41 people dead, including numerous children and six members of Parliament, to justice.
Ibrahim Gambari

UN envoy advises against Myanmar’s return to pre-crisis status quo

7 November 2007
In a meeting with Myanmar’s Prime Minister today, the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari urged the South-east Asian nation’s leadership to begin a dialogue with the opposition without delay, stressing that returning to the status quo before the recent crisis broke out will not be sustainable.

UN agency plans large-scale resettlement of Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal

6 November 2007
The United Nations refugee agency and its partners are laying the groundwork for the large-scale resettlement of Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal following the Government's announcement that they can go to other countries.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro

UN rights expert to visit Myanmar next week

6 November 2007
An independent United Nations human rights expert on Myanmar today welcomed an invitation by the country's authorities to visit from 11 to 15 November.

Secretary-General deplores deadly suicide attack in Afghanistan

6 November 2007
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today denounced the suicide attack that killed more than 40 civilians and injured scores of others in the northern Afghan town of Baghlan – one of the deadliest the war-torn nation has witnessed in recent years.
Ibrahim Gambari

Myanmar: UN envoy stresses need to lift restrictions on political detainees

6 November 2007
Continuing his consultations with the authorities in Myanmar, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser today again stressed the need for dialogue between the country’s leadership and the opposition, and urged that all restrictions on political detainees, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, be lifted as a critical first step.
Ian Martin

Nepal: UN envoy calls for frank assessment of electoral outlook

6 November 2007
Nepal’s politicians and civil society must conduct a clear assessment of why elections for its Constituent Assembly have had to be postponed twice this year, the senior United Nations envoy to the country said today, calling on all sides to outline a realistic road map for the future.

Security Council to send mission to Timor-Leste this month

6 November 2007
The Security Council will send a mission to Timor-Leste to build on the success of the tiny nation’s recent elections and to support efforts to bolster peace and democracy, it was announced today.
Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon repeats call for return to democratic rule in Pakistan

6 November 2007
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today repeated his call for a return to democratic rule in Pakistan and the release of all detained political leaders and lawyers as well as a United Nations human rights expert.