Hundreds of Burmese, joined by human rights groups, held protest demonstrations and peace rallies across North America on Tuesday to mark the 19th anniversary of the military coup.
The occasion was also used to show solidarity with people inside Burma who are leading the civic unrest against the military regime, which began on August 19.
The protest rallies and demonstrations this time included a China message. Statements issued by the demonstrators recognized that China now exercises considerable influence over the military junta and at the UN where it used its veto power to defeat an anti-Burma resolution proposed by the US and Britain early this year.
A demonstration at UN headquarters on Tuesday displayed placards urging UN action on Burma.
"It is basically China that is not allowing the UN Security Council to Act. China's unilateral foreign policy on Burma has completely paralyzed the Security Council," said Jeremy Woodrum of the US Campaign for Burma.
The US Campaign Burma organized five protests demonstrations outside Chinese missions in the US: Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.
"Our demand is that China should play a more active role in bringing normalcy to Burma in terms of restoration of democracy, protection of human rights and release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi," Woodrum told The Irrawaddy.
Woodrum said the campaign against China would intensify in the run up to the 2008 Olympics. China is the Burmese military regime's single most important ally, he said, supplying billions in weapons, aid and trade, while shielding the regime from international action by the UN Security Council.
"China's position on Burma is coming into greater focus," he said, adding that his group will widely publicize China's role in Burma prior to the Olympics.
In Canada, at least four peaceful demonstrations were held in the past two days at the Chinese missions in Toronto and Vancouver.
At the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa, Tin Maung Htoo of the Canadian Friends of Burma urged the Canadian government to help bring political change to Burma.
He said the demonstration was also meant to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives 19 years ago in opposing the military coup and to show solidarity with the people in Burma during the current unrest.
The occasion was also used to show solidarity with people inside Burma who are leading the civic unrest against the military regime, which began on August 19.
The protest rallies and demonstrations this time included a China message. Statements issued by the demonstrators recognized that China now exercises considerable influence over the military junta and at the UN where it used its veto power to defeat an anti-Burma resolution proposed by the US and Britain early this year.
A demonstration at UN headquarters on Tuesday displayed placards urging UN action on Burma.
"It is basically China that is not allowing the UN Security Council to Act. China's unilateral foreign policy on Burma has completely paralyzed the Security Council," said Jeremy Woodrum of the US Campaign for Burma.
The US Campaign Burma organized five protests demonstrations outside Chinese missions in the US: Washington, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.
"Our demand is that China should play a more active role in bringing normalcy to Burma in terms of restoration of democracy, protection of human rights and release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi," Woodrum told The Irrawaddy.
Woodrum said the campaign against China would intensify in the run up to the 2008 Olympics. China is the Burmese military regime's single most important ally, he said, supplying billions in weapons, aid and trade, while shielding the regime from international action by the UN Security Council.
"China's position on Burma is coming into greater focus," he said, adding that his group will widely publicize China's role in Burma prior to the Olympics.
In Canada, at least four peaceful demonstrations were held in the past two days at the Chinese missions in Toronto and Vancouver.
At the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa, Tin Maung Htoo of the Canadian Friends of Burma urged the Canadian government to help bring political change to Burma.
He said the demonstration was also meant to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives 19 years ago in opposing the military coup and to show solidarity with the people in Burma during the current unrest.
