United Nations envoy for Burma Razali Ismail is expected to have a tough task on his hands during his prospective visit to Rangoon later this week.

News leaking from the country hints at a much worse scenario than has been reported.

Although the envoy has refused to be drawn into the speculation, he is clearly concerned over reports that the military government has launched a crackdown on members of the main political opposition - the National League of Democracy (NLD) helmed by Aung San Suu Kyi.

Political aspirations

Contacted today, Razali indicated that he had been in contact with Burmese leaders about the rumours circulating about the whereabouts and the well being of Suu Kyi.

Asked to comment on reports that Suu Kyi had sustained head injuries in an apparent ambush on her convoy last Friday, he said: "I heard about that but I have been assured that she has not been injured."

Although declining to comment further, Razali pointed out that the latest United Nations statement on the developments in Burma showed clearly the organisation's position with regard to the reported crackdown.

In the statement yesterday, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan issued thinly-veiled criticism against the junta, saying "all parties should act responsibly to ensure that the national reconciliation process is not undermined further".

He said the situation in Burma should not be dismissed as one of 'law and order' but rather one that derived from the political aspirations of the Burmese people who were "overwhelmingly in favour of change".

Pessimistic outlook

But a close observer of Burmese politics said recent developments have certainly complicated things for Razali and the envoy's credibility now hinges upon the outcome of his visit.

Exiled Burmese editor of Irrawaddy - a magazine on Burmese and Asian current affairs - Aung Zaw said the prognosis did not look good for the envoy's work.

"I have expressed quite pessimistic views. If the junta let Razali in (for the visit), it would be for two reasons," he said.

"One, it could be because they are confident that he would clear the cloud of misinformation. They might let him meet with Suu Kyi for that reason. Another reason would be that they may want to use him to repair their (damaged reputation)."

Aung Zaw said if Razali visited Rangoon at all later this week, he would almost certainly insist on meeting with Suu Kyi, as this was his usual practice.

"The problem is, if he comes out and says that she is okay and that things are not as bad as they seem now, people may accuse him of being used by the (military) government. In that way, he is in a very difficult position," he added.

Infamous jail

On the whereabouts of Suu Kyi, Aung Zaw said if the unconfirmed reports of her being held in the compound of the capital's infamous Insein prison were true, it would be a deep blow to the national reconciliation process.

"Insein is a notorious prison. If they dare put her there, it would mean that they want to teach her a lesson or two," he added.

According to a report in Irrawaddy, Suu Kyi was said to have been brought back to Rangoon from the northern town of Ye-U near Mandalay, where she was arrested on Sunday. The NLD leader was on a month-long political tour.

The NLD leader was reportedly held temporarily at Insein before being transferred to an army 'guest house' in the capital.

The Burmese army maintained that Suu Kyi and several of her supporters were in "protective custody" following violent clashes between her supporters and the government's supporters last Friday.

Based on official government statements, the clashes killed four people, injured 50, and saw several vehicles damaged.

On Sunday, the junta also sealed all NLD offices nationwide and ordered all colleges and universities in the country closed until further notice.

In a statement issued later that day, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma - a coalition of exiled Burmese opposition groups - claimed instead that the death toll was as high as 70 people with more than 200 NLD members arrested.

The coalition also claimed that Suu Kyi was hit on the head during the melee after her convoy was ambushed by about 500 armed people.

Double jeopardy

Meanwhile, several Malaysian opposition politicians have called on the government to act in view of its close relationship with the Burmese government.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Malaysia's silence on Suu Kyi's detention is "insupportable and inexcusable" in the country's position as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and one of the strongest Asean supporters of the junta.

"Malaysia's credibility will suffer if the government continues to maintain its deafening silence when the international community led by the European Union and the United States are demanding for Suu Kyi's release," he said in a press statement.

"Malaysia's international reputation suffers double jeopardy as the government had been a leading advocate for constructive engagement with the (Burmese) junta, arguing that this course would produce results for democratisation and national reconciliation."

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo, left) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia president Dr Syed Husin Ali (photo, right) also expressed their concern over developments in Burma.

They said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should use the good relations between Malaysia and the Rangoon military to improve the situation and push for dialogue between the NLD and the government.

"We hope that (Razali) will not be diverted by other issues from his efforts to bring about democracy to Burma," they said in a joint statement.