On
Malaysia, Ban
Shifts from
End Violence
to Resolving
Situation
- Sri Lanka
Style?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, March
8 -- Amid
clashes in
Malaysia, UN
Secretary
General
Ban
Ki-moon on
March 6 issued
a fairly
standard call
to “end the
violence.” But
then the
rebels' offer
of a ceasefire
was rejected
by Malaysia's
prime
minister.
Inner
City Press
went to the UN's
March 7 noon
briefing and
asked Ban's
spokesman
Martin Nesirky:
Inner
City Press:
yesterday,
there was a
statement by
the
Secretary-General
about this
violence in
Malaysia,
calling for an
end to the
violence
and dialogue.
Since then, it
is reported
that the Prime
Minister of
Malaysia has
rejected a
call for a
ceasefire by
the
Philippines-based
clan group
sometimes
called gunmen,
sometimes
called rebels,
so I
wonder, it
said he is
watching it
closely, does
he think that
a
ceasefire
offer by one
side should be
taken by the
other? How is
the
violence going
to end other
than a
wipe-out of
the group?
Spokesperson
Nesirky:
The statement
says the same
thing. He
urges an end
to the
violence and
encourages
dialogue among
all the
parties for a
peaceful
resolution of
the situation.
That’s what he
said
[inaudible].
Inner
City Press:
That’s what I
was trying to
say,
[inaudible],
after he
said that, now
the Government
of Malaysia
has rejected
the ceasefire,
does he see
that as
inconsistent
with his call?
What does he
think
of it?
Spokesperson
Nesirky:
The
Secretary-General
stands by what
he said
yesterday.
Well,
maybe not.
Because on
March 8 Ban
met with
Malaysia's
Permanent
Representative
and afterward
issued a read
out that
didn't MENTION
ending
violence, but
rather to
resolving the
situation.
With
violence? In
miniature Sri
Lanka style?
Watch this
site.
, 
