The world’s wrath was more visible at the UN in New York where world leaders gathered to attend the 62nd Session of the General Assembly. Several leaders, including the U.S. president, strongly condemned the action taken by the military junta.
The issue was not only raised during the General Assembly debate, but also at several other meetings on the sidelines. One volatile situation arose when the Myanmar representative traded blows with the Asean foreign minister and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Rice told reporters after the meeting that she had an opportunity to address the issue with the Burmese representatives directly, but did not give any details. “I can just assure you that the US is determined to keep international focus on the travesty that is taking place in Rangoon,” she said.
Reflecting the mood of the larger global community, the Thai Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was appalled at reports of automatic weapons being used against demonstrators and that there had been fatalities.
“Thailand finds as unacceptable the commission of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators,” he said in his speech before the General Assembly.
Observing that democracy must be achieved in a peaceful manner, Chulanont said: “We strongly urge Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution and resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties concerned.”
Such statements coming from Asean countries were considered surprisingly forceful by diplomats at the UN. The Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu said the comments were “very strong.” The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said pressure from Asean is the strongest tool the world community has to stop violence in Burma.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has been taking a personal interest in the Burmese situation, said he was “pleased” with the decision of the Burmese authorities to allow Ibrahim Gambari, his Special Envoy on Burma, to visit the country on September 29.
Following reports of use of force by the military junta on peaceful protestors, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, dispatched Gambari to Burma on Wednesday night to take stock of the situation. However, at the time of leaving New York, he did not have a Burmese visa. It took much back-channel negotiations involving China until Burma finally agreed to allow Gambari a permit.
In a statement, the Secretary General called on the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with Gambari, who will begin his visit on September 29, and “to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation.”
The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad emphasized the importance of allowing Gambari to meet all the relevant people, including the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“It is very important that after he has done that, he comes back and reports to the council, so that the council can evaluate, judge and make appropriate decisions,” he said. The ambassador said that the US would continue to focus on Burma.
In Washington, the Chinese Foreign Minister met the US President, George W. Bush. The visiting dignitary informed Bush about the Chinese efforts to seek the co-operation of the Burmese authorities in this regard.
Commending the courage and leadership of the Buddhist monks to take on the military junta, the US President said in a statement: “We feel admiration and compassion for the monks and peaceful protesters calling for democracy.”
Bush called on all the nations that have any influence with the regime to support the aspirations of the people of Burma and “tell the Burmese Junta to cease using force on its own people.”
“I urge the Burmese soldiers and police not to use force on their fellow citizens. I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people,” Bush said.
A US State Department spokesperson urged Asean countries—and to a larger extent, India and China—to us their influence with the Burmese military “to do what they can to put pressure on the Burmese regime.”
The issue was not only raised during the General Assembly debate, but also at several other meetings on the sidelines. One volatile situation arose when the Myanmar representative traded blows with the Asean foreign minister and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Rice told reporters after the meeting that she had an opportunity to address the issue with the Burmese representatives directly, but did not give any details. “I can just assure you that the US is determined to keep international focus on the travesty that is taking place in Rangoon,” she said.
Reflecting the mood of the larger global community, the Thai Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was appalled at reports of automatic weapons being used against demonstrators and that there had been fatalities.
“Thailand finds as unacceptable the commission of violence and bodily harm to Buddhist monks and other demonstrators,” he said in his speech before the General Assembly.
Observing that democracy must be achieved in a peaceful manner, Chulanont said: “We strongly urge Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution and resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties concerned.”
Such statements coming from Asean countries were considered surprisingly forceful by diplomats at the UN. The Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu said the comments were “very strong.” The French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said pressure from Asean is the strongest tool the world community has to stop violence in Burma.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has been taking a personal interest in the Burmese situation, said he was “pleased” with the decision of the Burmese authorities to allow Ibrahim Gambari, his Special Envoy on Burma, to visit the country on September 29.
Following reports of use of force by the military junta on peaceful protestors, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, dispatched Gambari to Burma on Wednesday night to take stock of the situation. However, at the time of leaving New York, he did not have a Burmese visa. It took much back-channel negotiations involving China until Burma finally agreed to allow Gambari a permit.
In a statement, the Secretary General called on the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with Gambari, who will begin his visit on September 29, and “to commit to a path of peaceful and inclusive national reconciliation.”
The US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad emphasized the importance of allowing Gambari to meet all the relevant people, including the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“It is very important that after he has done that, he comes back and reports to the council, so that the council can evaluate, judge and make appropriate decisions,” he said. The ambassador said that the US would continue to focus on Burma.
In Washington, the Chinese Foreign Minister met the US President, George W. Bush. The visiting dignitary informed Bush about the Chinese efforts to seek the co-operation of the Burmese authorities in this regard.
Commending the courage and leadership of the Buddhist monks to take on the military junta, the US President said in a statement: “We feel admiration and compassion for the monks and peaceful protesters calling for democracy.”
Bush called on all the nations that have any influence with the regime to support the aspirations of the people of Burma and “tell the Burmese Junta to cease using force on its own people.”
“I urge the Burmese soldiers and police not to use force on their fellow citizens. I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people,” Bush said.
A US State Department spokesperson urged Asean countries—and to a larger extent, India and China—to us their influence with the Burmese military “to do what they can to put pressure on the Burmese regime.”
