US President George Bush on Friday called on the Burmese military junta to immediately release all detained demonstrators who have spoken out in peaceful gatherings in recent days to protest the rise in fuel and commodity goods prices.
Addressing the APEC Business Summit in Sydney, Bush said: “We must press the regime in Burma to stop arresting, harassing and assaulting pro-democracy activists for organizing or participating in peaceful demonstrations.”
Bush, who also discussed the current situation in Burma during bilateral meetings with the Australian prime minister and the Chinese president here, said: “The Burmese regime must release these activists immediately, stop its intimidation of those Burmese citizens who are promoting democracy and human rights and release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.”
Last week, Bush made a similar statement before leaving for Sydney. The first lady, Laura Bush, on Wednesday also called upon the international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to act immediately on the issue of Burma, which is currently witnessing widespread civic unrest.
Meanwhile, a senior US Senator called the recently concluded National Convention a farce and illegitimate.
In a statement, Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said: “The conclusion of the 'National Convention' in Burma has closed the curtain on an event that was a farce from the very beginning.
“The process could in no way be legitimate due to the exclusion of the National League for Democracy and the simultaneous oppression of ethnic minorities and peaceful activists,” he said.
McConnell said the State Peace and Development Council “needs to halt its vicious crackdown on nonviolent protesters and permit the people of Burma to engage meaningfully in a democratic reconciliation process."
Addressing the APEC Business Summit in Sydney, Bush said: “We must press the regime in Burma to stop arresting, harassing and assaulting pro-democracy activists for organizing or participating in peaceful demonstrations.”
Bush, who also discussed the current situation in Burma during bilateral meetings with the Australian prime minister and the Chinese president here, said: “The Burmese regime must release these activists immediately, stop its intimidation of those Burmese citizens who are promoting democracy and human rights and release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.”
Last week, Bush made a similar statement before leaving for Sydney. The first lady, Laura Bush, on Wednesday also called upon the international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to act immediately on the issue of Burma, which is currently witnessing widespread civic unrest.
Meanwhile, a senior US Senator called the recently concluded National Convention a farce and illegitimate.
In a statement, Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said: “The conclusion of the 'National Convention' in Burma has closed the curtain on an event that was a farce from the very beginning.
“The process could in no way be legitimate due to the exclusion of the National League for Democracy and the simultaneous oppression of ethnic minorities and peaceful activists,” he said.
McConnell said the State Peace and Development Council “needs to halt its vicious crackdown on nonviolent protesters and permit the people of Burma to engage meaningfully in a democratic reconciliation process."
