[NYTr] ASEAN group 'appalled' at Burma crackdown

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[NY Transfer has not been distributing anything much about the events
in Burma/Myanmar, because we don't really know enough to judge the
quality of the information.  The Brits (BBC and Jon Snow of channel 4)
have been giving it all major play, but the trustworthiness of British
views about Burma is highly dubious.  Ditto most of the mainstream
media. We have independent knowledge of the various small groups in
connected with Bura, either. And it has been reported that web/internet
access has been disrupted by the authorities.  This report is from
AFP and covers reactions among the nations of ASEAN. -NYTr]


sent by Dave Muller - southnews


Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called the leaders of six 
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 
Thursday, and all of them agreed that ASEAN should put out a clear 
statement to urge the Myanmar authorities to exercise restraint.]


AFP - Sep 28, 2007
   
ASEAN group 'appalled' at Burma crackdown

By P Parameswaran

SOUTHEAST Asian nations have demanded that Burma's military junta 
immediately stop using violence against pro-democracy protestors, as US 
President George W Bush urged China to put pressure on the regime to 
move toward democracy.

As security forces swept through Burma's main city arresting hundreds
in a brutal crackdown on the 10th straight day of protests, world
outrage mounted while the US slapped sanctions on 14 junta leaders.

In an indication that global pressure was beginning to work, UN leaders 
were told by Burma officials that UN chief Ban Ki-moon's special envoy, 
Ibrahim Gambari, would be granted a visa to visit the country to assess 
the situation.

In a previously unannounced meeting, Mr Bush told Chinese Foreign 
Minister Yang Jiechi he hoped China would use its influence to help 
bring a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma.

Mr Bush also thanked Mr Yang, who was at the White House for talks with 
US national security adviser Stephen Hadley, for China's help in 
facilitating Mr Gambari's visit to Burma, said US national security 
spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

China on Thursday also issued its first public call for Burma's
military rulers to show "restraint" in handling anti-government
protests but did not condemn the ongoing crackdown.

Sharp words for Burma

Ministers from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
(ASEAN), which has long had a policy of non-interference in the affairs 
of Burma, had unusually sharp words for its fellow member at a meeting 
at the United Nations.

"They were appalled to receive reports of automatic weapons being used 
and demanded that the Myanmar Government immediately desist from the
use of violence against demonstrators," Singapore Foreign Minister
George Yeo said.

The ministers "expressed their revulsion to Burma Foreign Minister Nyan 
Win over reports that the demonstrations in Myanmar are being
suppressed by violent force and that there has been a number of
fatalities," he said.

They strongly urged Burma to exercise restraint and seek a political 
solution, and wanted the ruling junta to resume national reconciliation 
with all parties and work towards a peaceful transition to democracy.

The unfolding drama on the streets of Rangoon has dominated the agenda 
of the UN General Assembly in New York, and prompted calls from around 
the world for the junta to lay down its arms.

At least 50,000 people, many of them youths and students, swarmed into 
Rangoon undeterred by the deaths the day before of at least four 
protesters, including three Buddhist monks, and repeatedly defied
orders to disperse.

In six hours of chaotic protests, Burma state media said nine people 
were killed on Thursday, including a Japanese journalist, and another
11 protesters injured.

The US administration has also ordered a freeze on the assets of
Burma's military leader Than Shwe and 13 other senior officials.

The US State Department has been adding Burma officials, regime 
supporters, and family members to a list of people barred from entering 
the United States, national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

'Burma' not 'Myanmar'

On a more symbolic front, the White House also indicated that it would 
continue to refer to the country as "Burma" instead of "Myanmar" in a 
show of support for the pro-democracy activists there. The military 
government changed the name in 1989.

Mr Yeo also said ASEAN ministers urged the junta to grant Mr Gambari 
"full access" to all parties in Burma, including Nobel peace laureate 
and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the last 17 
years under house arrest.

ASEAN also warned Burma that the bloody crisis was having "a serious 
impact on the reputation and credibility of ASEAN".

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the ASEAN stand was a 
victory for the thousands of demonstrators.

"This is a success for democracy and this is a success for the 
demonstrators in Myanmar," he told reporters in New York.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also welcomed the ASEAN
statement as "very good", after talks with the group's foreign
ministers.

"I can just assure you that the US is determined to keep an 
international focus on the travesty in Rangoon," she said.