Within a week of UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari's visit to India, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon will be in Yangon on Thursday making efforts at getting the Myanmarese Government to accept another round of talks with Gambari, besides emphasising India’s support for the national reconciliation process. It's learnt that Gambari had requested India to facilitate his next visit to Myanmar given that China had helped him get access the first time after the massive protests last August. India has been under pressure from the US, UK, France and Australia to step up involvement and influence the Military Government in Yangon.

Menon’s visit to Myanmar will be the first official trip to Yangon, besides that of Tourism Minister Ambika Soni as Indian representative at former Myanmar PM Soe Win’s funeral, for discussions on the current situation. It may be noted that Myanmar Foreign Minister U Nyan Win was here on January 1 when New Delhi had conveyed that it supported the Gambari mission. While India has demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and supported a broad-based dialogue towards democracy, New Delhi is against any coercive diplomatic effort like applying sanctions or blocking trade.

It was on this count that India, China and Russia took a different and more calibrated position after the protest by monks that left many killed in Myanmar last August. Instead of taking drastic steps, India had suggested a dialogue involving all stakeholders in Myanmar. It was these efforts that resulted in the appointment of Gambari and his subsequent visit to the country during which he met not only leaders from the Military Government but also Suu Kyi.

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