The 88-Generation Students group has sent a letter to the leaders of the Chinese government and Asean calling for their help in achieving reconciliation and democratic reforms in Burma.
“We want the Chinese government to review its policy on Burma, to stop financial and military support to the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] and to join together with the United Nations, the United States, Asean, the EU and other countries to help achieve national reconciliation and democratization in our country,” said 88 student leaders in a letter received by The Irrawaddy on Monday.
The letter was signed by three 88-Generation leaders who are hiding— Tun Myint Aung, Nilar Thein and Soe Htun—and addressed to the leaders of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, including President Hu Jintao, and officials of Asean, including Secretary-General ong Keng Yong of the Asean Secretariat.
Burma's Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, visited Beijing last Thursday. China has urged Burma to move on with a “democracy process that is appropriate for the country,” cautiously adding its weight to international pressure on Burma to defuse recent public unrest, Reuters new service reported.
The letter, however, criticized China for using its veto power to reject the non-binding resolution on Burma sponsored by the United States and United Kingdom in January 2007 before the UN Security Council.
Regarding Asean, the letter said, “We want the Asean governments to review their policy on Burma, [and to] stop financial support to and economic cooperation with the SPDC,” and urged Asean to assist in achieving national reconciliation and democratization in Burma.
The letter also criticized Asean for not working hard enough to pressure Burma's junta.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said recently at Sydney’s APEC Summit that Asean recognized that its "constructive engagement" policy has not produced any tangible result.
The group said, “collective and effective action" by the international community is necessary to persuade the junta to stop using violence and accept that political dialogue is the only solution. It urged Burma’s military government to enter into a political dialogue with the winning party in the 1990 election, the National League for Democracy, and ethnic political parties to solve problems peacefully.
The group earlier sent a similar letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging him to revive the issue of Burma at the UN Security Council with the intention of adopting a resolution on Burma and to send Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the country to hold talks with the junta.
Since August 19, when the protests against high fuel prices began, the Burmese regime has detained nearly 200 pro-democracy activists including members of the National League for Democracy and several prominent 88-Generation leaders, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Pyone Cho, Min Zeya, Kyaw Min Yu and Mya Aye.
The regime is hunting down other prominent activists and 88 Generation leaders including Htay Kywe, Nilar Thein, Soe Htun, Tun Myint Aung and Su Su Nway, who are all currently in hiding.
“We want the Chinese government to review its policy on Burma, to stop financial and military support to the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] and to join together with the United Nations, the United States, Asean, the EU and other countries to help achieve national reconciliation and democratization in our country,” said 88 student leaders in a letter received by The Irrawaddy on Monday.
The letter was signed by three 88-Generation leaders who are hiding— Tun Myint Aung, Nilar Thein and Soe Htun—and addressed to the leaders of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, including President Hu Jintao, and officials of Asean, including Secretary-General ong Keng Yong of the Asean Secretariat.
Burma's Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, visited Beijing last Thursday. China has urged Burma to move on with a “democracy process that is appropriate for the country,” cautiously adding its weight to international pressure on Burma to defuse recent public unrest, Reuters new service reported.
The letter, however, criticized China for using its veto power to reject the non-binding resolution on Burma sponsored by the United States and United Kingdom in January 2007 before the UN Security Council.
Regarding Asean, the letter said, “We want the Asean governments to review their policy on Burma, [and to] stop financial support to and economic cooperation with the SPDC,” and urged Asean to assist in achieving national reconciliation and democratization in Burma.
The letter also criticized Asean for not working hard enough to pressure Burma's junta.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said recently at Sydney’s APEC Summit that Asean recognized that its "constructive engagement" policy has not produced any tangible result.
The group said, “collective and effective action" by the international community is necessary to persuade the junta to stop using violence and accept that political dialogue is the only solution. It urged Burma’s military government to enter into a political dialogue with the winning party in the 1990 election, the National League for Democracy, and ethnic political parties to solve problems peacefully.
The group earlier sent a similar letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging him to revive the issue of Burma at the UN Security Council with the intention of adopting a resolution on Burma and to send Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the country to hold talks with the junta.
Since August 19, when the protests against high fuel prices began, the Burmese regime has detained nearly 200 pro-democracy activists including members of the National League for Democracy and several prominent 88-Generation leaders, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Pyone Cho, Min Zeya, Kyaw Min Yu and Mya Aye.
The regime is hunting down other prominent activists and 88 Generation leaders including Htay Kywe, Nilar Thein, Soe Htun, Tun Myint Aung and Su Su Nway, who are all currently in hiding.
