UN Chief Ban Arrives in Myanmar to Promote Reforms U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is visiting Myanmar to see how the world body can help promote the country's tentative steps toward democratic reform. Ban will meet President Thein Sein and visit a U.N. drug control project during the three-day visit that began Sunday. He will also pay his respects at the tomb of U Thant, a Myanmar diplomat who was U.N. Secretary-General in 1961-71. Ban last week said his visit is an unprecedented opportunity to help promote Myanmar's transition to democracy. Thein Sein came to power a year ago after a general election, and has implemented policies to reverse decades of repression under military rule. The leader of Myanmar's democracy movement, formerly jailed Aung San Suu Kyi, has endorsed his program.