| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| Related News |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Special Report |
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNITED NATIONS: China led a drive at the UN Security Council to soften a Western-sponsored statement condemning Myanmar's military crackdown, amid agreement on the need to end the violence and free political prisoners.
Experts from the body's 15 members huddled behind closed doors for nearly three hours in "a constructive atmosphere," said a delegate from Ghana, which chairs the council this month.
In the end the sponsors -- Britain, France and the United States -- agreed to come up with a revised text taking account of the amendments.
"They intend to circulate a revised text some time this evening, which we would then refer to our capitals for consideration and instructions," Albert Yankey of Ghana told AFP.
The diplomatic wrangling came as the military maintained its grip in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, after violently quelling the largest anti-government rallies in 20 years.
The regime has come under intense global pressure following the crackdown, which left at least 13 people dead and saw more than 2,000 arrested, including hundreds of Buddhist monks who had led the protests.
Many of them have now been released, but security forces still maintain a tight presence in the main city Yangon and elsewhere.
The Western powers introduced their initial draft Friday after the council heard a report from UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on a recent mission there.
The text would condemn "the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations," urge Myanmar's rulers to "cease repressive measures" and release detainees as well as political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Yankey said there was a consensus on calling the violence by the military regime and its repression of peaceful protests "unacceptable," on the need for dialogue and national reconciliation and for expressing support for Gambari's mission.
But he said China, backed by several other delegations, wanted to replace the word "condemn" with "strongly deplore" and drop any reference to "further steps," suggesting instead the council continues to monitor the situation.
The Chinese also objected to a detailed formulation in the draft of steps the Myanmar regime must take to defuse the crisis, the diplomat said.
"China has a key role to play and needs to maintain communications with the regime. The same applies to Gambari," said Yankey, who noted that members were keen "not to jeopardise" the twin mediation.
Yankey said he did not expect the experts to meet again until Wednesday.
There has been heavy global pressure for action after the protests, which began after a huge rise in the price of fuel and drew as many as 100,000 onto Yangon's streets, were put down with bullets, baton charges and tear gas.
Rallies in support of the protesters were held over the weekend in cities around the world.
Italy's UN ambassador Marcello Spatafora said it was urgent for the world body to send a "strong, unified" message to the ruling military government.
China, which has close ties with Myanmar and favours engagement, warned last week that putting pressure on the generals "would lead to confrontation."
The United States has threatened to push for UN sanctions, but that would likely face resistance and possibly a veto from China and Russia, which insist the turmoil in the southeast Asian country is an internal matter.
In Myanmar itself, the military government has moved to appease opinion by donating cash and alms of food and medicines to the monks, and has trumpeted the release of hundreds of monks and other demonstrators.
Late Monday, it announced the appointment of its deputy labour minister to oversee relations with Aung San Suu Kyi, after last week offering to meet her for talks provided she dropped support for sanctions.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has come to symbolize Myanmar's peaceful struggle for democracy, has spent most of the past 18 years under house arrest. - AFP/ac
|
