2 replies to this topic

[Gene]

"Citing persistent abuses in Burma, the White House on Friday urged a UN envoy to resume talks with the country's military and opposition leaders and defer consultations with other Asian governments.

UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, seeking a strategy to deal with the tense military-ruled country, plans to set off next week for talks in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan.

But the White House prodded Gambari to return to Burm "as soon as possible" to meet government officials and pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi so "Burma can move toward a peaceful transition to democracy." "We would like to see Advisor Gambari visit Burma before he visits other regional capitals," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=122590

[Hedda]

UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, seeking a strategy to deal with the tense military-ruled country, plans to set off next week for talks in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and Japan.

Why not Peru or Botswanna, for that matter, while he's got his suitcase packed. The problem is in Burma, and going through the motions of touring the capitals of Asia or ASEAN will get nowhere, as long as the millitary thugs running Burma are not being pressured by China to create some form of genuine national unity government, starting with the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi from arrest.

The sad fact is that the UN and Mr. Gambari have no leverage to exert on China or Burma and without that, these authoritarian countries will do what they want, no matter where he flies. Same goes for George Bush, whose power and prestige are so firmly nailed to the cross he built himself in Iraq that the best he can do now is to posture with rhetoric and some rather meaningless sanctions.

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that I agree wth some ealier posters here and elsewhere, that unless and until China's dictators sees a genuine peoples' world movement developing on the internet to boycott the upcoming Olympics because of its role in Burma, nothing significant will happen to free Burma from indefinite military rule.

I concur: Let's BOYCOTT the CHINA OLYMPICS !!! Let's see what kind of real power this internet can have in the hands of the world's millions.
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[DollyLamma]

Let's BOYCOTT the CHINA OLYMPICS !!! Let's see what kind of real power this internet can have in the hands of the world's millions.

I agree 100% but I'm not sure how such a thing gets started without some major international NGO serving as its sponsor. For sure, saying it on a board for gays in Thailand won't get much publicity.