Opposition rejects Burmese leader's negotiation offer
Sometimes people are funny without meaning to be.The head of Burma's junta, General Than Shwe, said he would meet Ms Suu Kyi on condition she gives up her call for international sanctions against Burma.
In other words, stop this foolish attempt to have us overthrown and have democracy installed and we will stop labelling you a dangerous radical. Unsurprisingly:The offer was later rejected by the opposition, describing it as a tactic to force their leader to abandon the campaign for democracy.
Shwe has also insisted that Kyi abandons her "confrontational attitude". Which I suppose means any opposition to the military junta. Well at least he's starting from a reasonable position, eh? Abandon all you believe in, stop labelling us as what we are and we can have a very fruitful dialogue...
However, any hopes of UN action against the Burmese government are slight as China appear certain to issue a veto.Yesterday, Beijing again stated that the repression of pro-democracy protests in Burma did not demand international action. China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said: "There are problems there but these problems, we still believe, are basically internal. No international-imposed solution can help the situation. We want the government there to handle this issue."
However, around the world a day of protest has begun for the people of Burma.
The Buddhist monks who took to the streets have certainly not failed in their intent, as their actions have placed the plight of the Burmese people firmly in the international spotlight.Thousands of red rose petals will drift down the Thames today and campaigners will take to the streets as part of a worldwide day of protest at the continuing oppression of the Burmese people by the ruling military junta.
The march in London will coincide with similar demonstrations across the nation and the globe, voicing horror at the recent violence and drawing attention to the lack of coordinated action by the international community.
"We are expecting demonstrations in 25 countries. There have never been such a number of events around the world for Burma. This will dwarf any previous demonstrations in the UK," said Mark Farmaner, acting director of the Burma Campaign.
As the Chinese veto almost guarantees that there will be no blanket sanctions endorsed by the UN it is for individual nations to put pressure on their own governments to stop trading with Burma."The regime wants the world to forget about Burma. That is why they have shut down communication and stopped images coming out of the country. It is important for people around the world to maintain pressure and make sure world leaders keep their focus on trying to bring about change."
As many as 20,000 people are expected to turn up today for the London march. Led by up to 100 monks, many of them Burmese, the protesters, sporting the red headbands of the democracy movement, will assemble at Tate Britain at 11am before crossing Westminster Bridge at midday to drop the petals in the river, each one symbolising the lives threatened in Burma. Some marchers will then tie their headbands to the gates of Downing Street before joining a rally in Trafalgar Square to be addressed by the political exile Myo Thein, who endured imprisonment and torture at the hands of the military regime.
"The events in London are designed to show the people of Burma that we stand with them, and the generals that we are watching their every move," Myo Thein said yesterday. "We also hope the protests will force the UK Government to do more to demand an end to the military crackdown and get the UN Security Council to act."
The protest will coincide with similar events across the country, from Edinburgh to Llandudno, Brighton to Birmingham. Rallies and candlelit vigils will also be held in countries as diverse as Belgium, Mongolia, Chile and Denmark.
The US continues to pressure Burma through sanctions and maintaining contact with representatives of the democratic opposition. It's nice to report that there is something on which George Bush and I are in agreement.
Nor is China's protection enough to make the Burmese regime untouchable. Indeed, the more the Burmese government rely on one trading partner to protect them, the more vulnerable they become.
The Chinese government are setting great hope on the Beijing Olympics enhancing their international reputation. Were Western governments to threaten to boycott those Olympics I don't think the Chinese would continue to support the Burmese government.
China may be the rising international superstar, but she can still be hit where it matters. In this case, her vanity. We should threaten to boycott until China stops protecting this vile regime.
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