Junta Leader Avoids U.N. Chief's Calls

UNITED NATIONS — Signaling the growing frustration among U.N. relief workers with the Burmese regime, Secretary-General Ban said yesterday that the country's military leader is declining to return his phone calls.

Although the Burmese authorities have begun to allow a trickle of international aid into the cyclone-ravaged country, "much more is needed," Mr. Ban told reporters at a press conference aimed at highlighting the need for international support for Burma. The U.N. humanitarian relief coordinator, John Holmes, said that for his part, he makes contact with the junta through the Burmese ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Tint Swe, while the highest level of government that U.N. representatives on the ground have been able to communicate with is the deputy foreign minister.

"Over the weekend and throughout much of last week, I tried repeatedly to telephone" the leader of the junta, General Than Shwe, Mr. Ban said. "I wanted to ask his cooperation with the international community and offer the United Nations' full support. I was not able to reach him, and so delivered a letter earlier this morning through diplomatic channels. This was my second letter to him since Cyclone Nargis."

General Shwe is said by Burmese dissidents to "call all the shots," from decisions about which foreign aid representatives are granted entry visas to how aid is distributed around the country. The general has evaded not only Mr. Ban's attempts at communication, but also calls from leaders of neighboring countries, Mr. Holmes said.