With fear of a military crackdown in Burma looming large, a senior Bush administration official on Monday urged India to pursue its diplomatic channels with the Burmese junta to prevent bloodshed and to promote political change.
"We want to see the Indian Government use its influence on Burma in the very short term," Kristin Silverberg, the Assistant Secretary of International Organization Affairs, said at a press conference.
This is the first time that the US has put pressure on India on this matter. India has developed close military and diplomatic ties with the military leadership in Burma over the past few years, whereas previously concentration had mainly focused on China.
Silverberg said, "There are a number of ways to persuade the Burmese Government to change its course—one was Security Council action; we strongly supported it and we are disappointed that China and Russia blocked. But there are many other ways to address this as well. One is through Asean."
That is why, she said, the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to make this a priority in her meeting later this week with Asean countries at the UN. She added that Burma would be the top priority for Rice at this meeting. The US Secretary of State would reiterate the US position on Burma—commencement of a political process, release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and protection of ethnic minorities.
Furthermore the US is calling on the countries in the Security Council who opposed the resolution on Burma earlier this year to use their leverage to persuade the Burmese Government to, first of all, show restraint in response to the peaceful protests and, over the longer term, look to undertake political changes.
Referring to media reports of an imminent military crackdown on the protesting monks, Silverberg said, "We strongly support the efforts of the Burmese people to seek change in their country. This has been a high priority for the United States. That is why we put Burma on the Security Council agenda for the first time. It is why we tabled the resolution last year; we strongly supported the role of Ibrahim Gambari and helped him to travel to the region and secure stronger support and action from some of the major regional players."
She said the US is closely watching the response of the Burmese Government to these protests. "We strongly support the rights of the Burmese people to undertake peaceful protests and we call on the Government to exercise all restraint," she said.
"We want to see the Indian Government use its influence on Burma in the very short term," Kristin Silverberg, the Assistant Secretary of International Organization Affairs, said at a press conference.
This is the first time that the US has put pressure on India on this matter. India has developed close military and diplomatic ties with the military leadership in Burma over the past few years, whereas previously concentration had mainly focused on China.
Silverberg said, "There are a number of ways to persuade the Burmese Government to change its course—one was Security Council action; we strongly supported it and we are disappointed that China and Russia blocked. But there are many other ways to address this as well. One is through Asean."
That is why, she said, the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to make this a priority in her meeting later this week with Asean countries at the UN. She added that Burma would be the top priority for Rice at this meeting. The US Secretary of State would reiterate the US position on Burma—commencement of a political process, release of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and protection of ethnic minorities.
Furthermore the US is calling on the countries in the Security Council who opposed the resolution on Burma earlier this year to use their leverage to persuade the Burmese Government to, first of all, show restraint in response to the peaceful protests and, over the longer term, look to undertake political changes.
Referring to media reports of an imminent military crackdown on the protesting monks, Silverberg said, "We strongly support the efforts of the Burmese people to seek change in their country. This has been a high priority for the United States. That is why we put Burma on the Security Council agenda for the first time. It is why we tabled the resolution last year; we strongly supported the role of Ibrahim Gambari and helped him to travel to the region and secure stronger support and action from some of the major regional players."
She said the US is closely watching the response of the Burmese Government to these protests. "We strongly support the rights of the Burmese people to undertake peaceful protests and we call on the Government to exercise all restraint," she said.
