U.N. envoy suggests Myanmar incentives

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The U.N. envoy to Myanmar Thursday suggested the country's military junta might be nudged toward democratization by incentives and encouragement.

Ibrahim Gambari said during a stop in Jakarta that other nations have been ratcheting up pressure on government officials in Yangon, formerly Rangoon, while leaving room for incentives meant to encourage them "to go along the path to making a stable, democratic Myanmar with full respect fro human rights," a United Nations news release said.

By employing more carrot than stick, Gambari said, the international community's "strong encouragement," accompanied by incentives, might produce the desired results.

"The world is not just there to punish Myanmar, but to see that there is engagement to address the root causes of discontent," he said after meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

They talked over ways the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations can engage authorities in Myanmar "so that the goals that we both share come together sooner rather than later."

Indonesia is the third stop on a six-nation tour for Gambari, who next heads to India, China and Japan before returning to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, next month.