Myanmar activists hold pictures of Myanmar's opposition party leader Aung San Suu Kyi while shouting slogans during a protest against the increase of the price of fuel, outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, 02 September 2007. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday denounced Myanmar's ruling military junta as "brutal" and said Washington was closely monitoring rising protests for democracy in the Southeast Asian state.NEW YORK (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday denounced Myanmar's ruling military junta as "brutal" and said Washington was closely monitoring rising protests for democracy in the Southeast Asian state.
"Certainly, we are watching very carefully and the President (George W. Bush) has been very outspoken about what is happening in Burma (Myanmar)," Rice told reporters with her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi beside her, ahead of their talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
"The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve a life to be able to live in freedom just as everyone does and the brutality of this regime is well known and so we will be speaking about that and I think the president will be speaking about that," Rice said.
The Rice-Yang meeting took place as 20,000 people led by Buddhist monks on Sunday launched the biggest challenge against Myanmar's military rule in nearly two decades, emboldened after a march to see the country's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
China, among Myanmar's closest allies and biggest military suppliers, has previously insisted it would not pressure the junta to open up, saying it did not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of another country.
But in a rare move this month, Beijing's top diplomatic advisor Tang Jiaxuan gently nudged the junta to adopt democratic changes.
Details of the talks between Rice and Yang on the Myanmar issue were not immediately available.
The swelling protests in Myanmar followed a landmark day Saturday, when the army allowed about 2,000 monks and civilians to pass a roadblock and gather by the lakeside Yangon house which has been Aung San Suu Kyi's prison for 12 of the past 18 years.
Tears in her eyes, the woman known in Myanmar as "The Lady" waved at monks as they recited Buddhist prayers, witnesses said, while supporters chanted: "Long life and health for Aung San Suu Kyi, may she have freedom soon."
The 62-year-old has become an internationally recognised symbol of non-violent political change since her National League for Democracy won 1990 elections by a landslide -- a result never recognised by the military.
What began as a protest against economic hardship has now grown, with marches against military rule attracting thousands of young monks to the streets of Yangon and other cities since Tuesday.
Rice will also highlight the Myanmar crisis at a meeting with her counterparts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday at the sidelines of the UN talks.
"Among other things, Secretary Rice will press for ASEAN leverage to end the crackdown in Burma and to initiate genuine democratic reforms in Burma," Assistant Secretary of State Kristen Silverberg told reporters.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a member of ASEAN, which also comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"Certainly, we are watching very carefully and the President (George W. Bush) has been very outspoken about what is happening in Burma (Myanmar)," Rice told reporters with her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi beside her, ahead of their talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
"The Burmese people deserve better. They deserve a life to be able to live in freedom just as everyone does and the brutality of this regime is well known and so we will be speaking about that and I think the president will be speaking about that," Rice said.
The Rice-Yang meeting took place as 20,000 people led by Buddhist monks on Sunday launched the biggest challenge against Myanmar's military rule in nearly two decades, emboldened after a march to see the country's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
China, among Myanmar's closest allies and biggest military suppliers, has previously insisted it would not pressure the junta to open up, saying it did not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of another country.
But in a rare move this month, Beijing's top diplomatic advisor Tang Jiaxuan gently nudged the junta to adopt democratic changes.
Details of the talks between Rice and Yang on the Myanmar issue were not immediately available.
The swelling protests in Myanmar followed a landmark day Saturday, when the army allowed about 2,000 monks and civilians to pass a roadblock and gather by the lakeside Yangon house which has been Aung San Suu Kyi's prison for 12 of the past 18 years.
Tears in her eyes, the woman known in Myanmar as "The Lady" waved at monks as they recited Buddhist prayers, witnesses said, while supporters chanted: "Long life and health for Aung San Suu Kyi, may she have freedom soon."
The 62-year-old has become an internationally recognised symbol of non-violent political change since her National League for Democracy won 1990 elections by a landslide -- a result never recognised by the military.
What began as a protest against economic hardship has now grown, with marches against military rule attracting thousands of young monks to the streets of Yangon and other cities since Tuesday.
Rice will also highlight the Myanmar crisis at a meeting with her counterparts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday at the sidelines of the UN talks.
"Among other things, Secretary Rice will press for ASEAN leverage to end the crackdown in Burma and to initiate genuine democratic reforms in Burma," Assistant Secretary of State Kristen Silverberg told reporters.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a member of ASEAN, which also comprises Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
4 comments:
This is a greatest Burmese woman who English blood in her.
Now you see what the evil China does to Burma? Million Chinese moving into Burma like bees.
Cambodia should not trust these Evils China and Vietnam. They are still one EVIL.
Trust no one, but only unity among our Khmers. If we have will, we can do it. Watch out all the time! No one does good to us without seeing benifits they wish to get back in return...
True, there is no free lunch in the west.
Please don't count on other country, especially those western countrys, they are hypocritical. Your future is just in your own hand!
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