BURMA: Protests draw international concern
Updated
There's growing international concern over the political turmoil in Burma. Buddhist monks have been leading peaceful demonstrations against the military junta since August 19, and there appears no sign they intend to stop.
SNOWDON: The actions of the monks who are widely respected in Burmese society are drawing large supportive crowds, especially in the former capital, Rangoon or Yangon. It's potentially an explosive situation, one the United Nations can't ignore. The United States and British ambassadors to the UN spoke of their concern, after a closed door briefing by special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari.
US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad:
KHALILZAD: We are concerned about the situation particularly now because we see a worsening of the political situation that is affecting the wellbeing of the people of Burma and also having an impact on the region.
SNOWDON: Britain's Ambassador to the UN, John Sawyers, wants Gambari to visit Burma as soon as possible.
SAWYERS: The continued clampdown on any dissent in Burma, continued human rights abuses have seriously set this back and it's set things back, not only in Burma itself, but in the region as a whole.
SNOWDON: The ruling generals in Burma have further isolated themselves in their new purpose built capital city. The recent convention on their so-called roadmap to democracy illicits only scorn internationally.
US Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad:
KHALILZAD: The recent convention has been a sham, not only the convention was not representative, but it has coincided with increased oppression of the people. So I assured Mr Gambari can count on our support.
SNOWDON: Support has also gathered in Australia. The Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma protested outside the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's Sydney office, saying the government's opposition is much weaker than in the United Kingdom and the US.
The President of the Coalition, John Kaye, says Burma is on the verge of regime change.
KAYE: A smooth transition to democracy without the sorts of horrendous human rights violations that we saw in 1988 is really in the hands of people like the Howard Government to say internationally and loudly that they will not tolerate systematic human rights abuse.
SNOWDON: Members of the Australian Labor Party took part in the small protest in Sydney. John Kaye, who is also a state parliamentary member of the Greens Party, says it's possible attacks on monks could escalate to a military crackdown similar to 1998, when 3,000 democracy protesters were killed.
KAYE: The military probably does have quite a bit to fear here, because the signs are very similar to those in early 1988, that the people of Burma will no longer tolerate the systematic human rights abuse, the suppression of democracy, the suppression of free speech, and we could be on the verge of a major change in Burma.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speakers: John Kaye, President of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma and member of the Australian Greens
