Eminent Buddhist monks living in the US and Europe Thursday urged the UN Security Council for immediate intervention in Burma to prevent further bloodshed.
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and members of the Security Council, the monks said the situation in Burma has deteriorated beyond control and the military junta is killing, beating and arresting monks throughout the country.
“We believe that the people of Burma deserve the UN Security Council’s immediate protection from this brutal military junta. We request that you take effective and collective action to protect the people of Burma/Myanmar now without further delay,” said the letter which was signed by 18 eminent monks living in the US and Europe.
“We remind the UN Security Council of its mandate to maintain peace and stability in the world and declare there is evidence enough that the situation in Burma under the SPDC is amounting to a threat to peace and stability in the region,” the letter said.
“UN Security Council also has a responsibility to protect the people who are brutalized by their own government, according to the UNSC resolution 1674 (2006) and the 2005 World Summit Outcome’s paragraph 138-140,” the monks said.
There are sharp differences among the members of the Security Council on the Burma issue. While Countries led by Russia and China believe that the situation does not constitute a threat to regional peace and stability, the other three permanent members— the US, Britain and France—want stronger action by the Security Council.
Meanwhile, The Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks, a group that has been at the forefront of organizing anti-junta demonstrations, has announced a boycott of all Burmese embassies and missions.
The monks informed the UN that starting Thursday, “We will not accept any offerings or donations from staff members or supporters of Burmese embassies in the US and other countries, and we will not attend any social or religious functions conducted by them.”
The group said its boycott would continue until four major demands are met by the military junta: (1) an apologize to the monks who were brutally beaten by authorities; (2) to immediately reduce the prices of basic commodities and fuel; (3) to release all detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi and (4) to engage with political and ethnic representatives in a meaningful dialogue to solve problems peacefully.
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and members of the Security Council, the monks said the situation in Burma has deteriorated beyond control and the military junta is killing, beating and arresting monks throughout the country.
“We believe that the people of Burma deserve the UN Security Council’s immediate protection from this brutal military junta. We request that you take effective and collective action to protect the people of Burma/Myanmar now without further delay,” said the letter which was signed by 18 eminent monks living in the US and Europe.
“We remind the UN Security Council of its mandate to maintain peace and stability in the world and declare there is evidence enough that the situation in Burma under the SPDC is amounting to a threat to peace and stability in the region,” the letter said.
“UN Security Council also has a responsibility to protect the people who are brutalized by their own government, according to the UNSC resolution 1674 (2006) and the 2005 World Summit Outcome’s paragraph 138-140,” the monks said.
There are sharp differences among the members of the Security Council on the Burma issue. While Countries led by Russia and China believe that the situation does not constitute a threat to regional peace and stability, the other three permanent members— the US, Britain and France—want stronger action by the Security Council.
Meanwhile, The Alliance of All Burma Buddhist Monks, a group that has been at the forefront of organizing anti-junta demonstrations, has announced a boycott of all Burmese embassies and missions.
The monks informed the UN that starting Thursday, “We will not accept any offerings or donations from staff members or supporters of Burmese embassies in the US and other countries, and we will not attend any social or religious functions conducted by them.”
The group said its boycott would continue until four major demands are met by the military junta: (1) an apologize to the monks who were brutally beaten by authorities; (2) to immediately reduce the prices of basic commodities and fuel; (3) to release all detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi and (4) to engage with political and ethnic representatives in a meaningful dialogue to solve problems peacefully.
