The Burmese regime’s extension of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest had the support of China and Russia, Burma’s 88 Generation Students group charged on Monday.
The group also criticized China and Russia for vetoing a draft UN Security Council resolution on Burma, saying they had "missed an opportunity to respond to the situation in our country constructively, collectively and effectively within the United Nations framework."
Ko Ko Gyi, a leader of the group, said China and Russia “should recognize the fact that the stability of the region is better if Burma becomes a democratic country."
Both China and Russia maintain close relations with the Burmese junta and have repeatedly said Burma’s problems were the domestic concern of a sovereign state.
China's Foreign Ministry restated Beijing’s policy recently in a statement saying Suu Kyi’s continuing detention was an internal affair. China "hopes to see Myanmar [Burma] maintain political stability and continue to make progress in the process of national reconciliation," the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.
The 88 Generation Students group, however, charges that while China and Russia claim they want to see prosperity and stability in Burma they refuse to join the international community in calling for democratization, including the release of all political prisoners.
"With the strong backing of China and Russia, Burmese generals extended Daw Suu's detention for another year,” said Ko Ko Gyi. “It means that hope for our country's national reconciliation is turned down again."
Despite the veto by China and Russia of the US and British-sponsored motion to put Burma on the agenda of the Security Council, the US will continue to raise the issue of human rights violations by the Burmese military government, the new US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, told The Irrawaddy last month.
The group also criticized China and Russia for vetoing a draft UN Security Council resolution on Burma, saying they had "missed an opportunity to respond to the situation in our country constructively, collectively and effectively within the United Nations framework."
Ko Ko Gyi, a leader of the group, said China and Russia “should recognize the fact that the stability of the region is better if Burma becomes a democratic country."
Both China and Russia maintain close relations with the Burmese junta and have repeatedly said Burma’s problems were the domestic concern of a sovereign state.
China's Foreign Ministry restated Beijing’s policy recently in a statement saying Suu Kyi’s continuing detention was an internal affair. China "hopes to see Myanmar [Burma] maintain political stability and continue to make progress in the process of national reconciliation," the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.
The 88 Generation Students group, however, charges that while China and Russia claim they want to see prosperity and stability in Burma they refuse to join the international community in calling for democratization, including the release of all political prisoners.
"With the strong backing of China and Russia, Burmese generals extended Daw Suu's detention for another year,” said Ko Ko Gyi. “It means that hope for our country's national reconciliation is turned down again."
Despite the veto by China and Russia of the US and British-sponsored motion to put Burma on the agenda of the Security Council, the US will continue to raise the issue of human rights violations by the Burmese military government, the new US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, told The Irrawaddy last month.
