NEW DELHI: Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, believes that "megaphone diplomacy" is not the best way in dealing with the military junta in Myanmar.

Talking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Mr. Pinheiro, who was in India in his capacity as United Nation's independent expert on violence against children, said: "We need a lot of diplomacy, diplomacy and diplomacy [to deal with the situation in Myanmar]."

Pointing out that the National League for Democracy (NLD) general secretary Aung San Suu Kyi was being kept in "virtual solitary confinement," the Brazilian academic took the view that there was need for more coordination within the international community in dealing with Myanmar.

Admitting that the rest of the world had hit a major roadblock in dealing with the Yangon regime, Mr. Pinheiro said that in the six years he had served as Special Rapporteur he had not taken a position on sanctions against Myanmar. "Sanctions are not having a positive result," Mr. Pinheiro felt as he nears the end of his tenure. At the same time, he felt that it was not his job to advise governments on what to do.

Mr. Pinheiro said the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could play a positive role in dealing with the situation in Myanmar. "They can play a role in overcoming the roadblock. There should be a real partnership [on Myanmar]."

According to him, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had expressed desire to visit Myanmar and the regime had accepted their requests. "That's a positive development." Asked if Myanmar would soon get on to the U.N. Security Council agenda, Mr. Pinheiro felt it was unlikely that there would be a discussion anytime soon on Myanmar in the Council.

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