Ex-US Diplomat Bill Richardson defends private visit to Myanmar; 'I can make a difference'

Former United States Ambassador to United Nations Bill Richardson ackwledged criticism of his humanitarian visit to Myanmar but stated he believed that trip was constructive. Bill Richardson, on a humanitarian mission in strife-torn Myanmar, met with leader of Myanmar's military junta and or top officials, as well as members of foreign diplomatic corps and representatives of United Nations and or international organisations, during his visit last week. According to report, he recommended a number of specific humanitarian measures, primarily to facilitate delivery of aid to remote areas.

Richardson, a former goverr of New Mexico, is most prominent American to visit Souast Asian country since military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in February. According to his office, he travelled re last week with three colleagues to discuss delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies, and or public health needs. United States, however, along with a number of or Western countries, opposes Myanmar's military-installed government and advocates for a return to democracy.

“I’m deeply invested in this country and y invited me. I have a letter from foreign minister to talk about vaccines ... that’s what I was invited to do. And I care about country and I think I can make a difference. It’s a small difference," Richardson said in an online interview with AP on Monday.

According to AP, Richardson claimed, "Well, I knew that trip would face some criticism." He, however, rejected tion that he could bestow legitimacy on Myanmar's government. Legitimacy is conferred by people and by governments, he added.

Ex-US diplomat has a long history of involvement with Myanmar

Richardson has a long history of involvement with Myanmar, dating back to 1994 when he met Suu Kyi at her residence in Yangon, where she had been under house arrest since 1989 under a previous military regime. He most recently visited Myanmar in 2018 to provide advice on country's Muslim Rohingya mirity. After Myanmar's military launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign in western state of Rakhine in 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingyas fled to refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Ever since this year's military takeover, majority of Myanmar has been engulfed in violence. Security forces brutally suppressed widespread peaceful protests against army rule, and armed resistance has grown to point where U.N. experts have warned country risks devolving into civil war. unrest has also resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with food supplies severely disrupted, as well as a breakdown of an already precarious public health system in one of Asia's poorest countries. When a new wave of coronavirus hit during summer, crematoriums in Yangon were overwhelmed.

(With inputs from AP)

Im: AP