UK Prime Minster calls for immediate action on Burma

Brown calls for immediate action on Burma


Deborah Summers and Hélène Mulholland
Tuesday September 25, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Gordon Brown today called for "immediate international action" to stave off a threatened military crackdown on protesters in Burma.

The prime minister called on the ruling junta in Rangoon to "exercise restraint" in its response to demonstrations which have brought tens of thousands of monks on to the streets, demanding democracy.

The foreign secretary, David Miliband, also told delegates at the Labour party conference in Bournemouth that countries like Burma should play by "global rules".

Article continues
He spoke out amid fears of bloodshed after up to 100,000 demonstrators protesting against the Burmese regime flooded the streets of Rangoon in the biggest show of dissent in almost two decades.

In letters today to the current holder of the European Union presidency, the Portuguese prime minister, José Socrates, and the United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, Mr Brown today called for a warning to Rangoon of tougher sanctions if there is a crackdown.

He told Mr Socrates: "I would strongly support a presidency initiative to warn the Burmese government that we are watching their behaviour and that the EU will impose tougher EU sanctions if they make the wrong choices."

And in his letter to Mr Ban, Mr Brown said: "We need concerted international action, including the UN, to discourage violence. We need to stand together."

Mr Brown said he would support an urgent visit to Burma by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, as well as discussions at the UN security council.

Mr Brown acted after the Burmese government threatened to "take action" against the Buddhist monks who have led the biggest protests in the south-east Asian dictatorship for almost two decades.

Yesterday, the prime minister used his keynote address to conference to highlight the tensions in Burma, insisting: "Human rights are universal and no injustice can last forever."

In today's letters, he wrote: "We have all been watching with concern the unfolding human tragedy in Burma, which requires immediate international action.

"The widespread and growing popular demonstrations, led by Buddhist monks, are unprecedented. They illustrate the failure of the Burmese regime to promote a genuine process of political reconciliation.

"It is vital that the Burmese authorities exercise restraint in the face of the demonstrators and seize the opportunity to launch a process of real political reform.

"It is disturbing that they are now threatening to use force against the demonstrators.

"Violent suppression of the demonstrations would be a tragedy and another missed opportunity for Burma.

"All those with influence on the Burmese government should now use it to deter violence and encourage reconciliation." Mr Brown called for the UN to encourage key regional neighbours of Burma to urge the authorities in Rangoon to pursue reconciliation.

Mr Miliband said he "looked forward" to the day that Aung San Suu Kyi took over as its elected leader.

"While I'm at it," he said. "Wasn't it brilliant to see Aung San Suu Kyi alive and well outside her house last week? I think it will be a hundred times better when she takes her rightful place as the elected leader of a free and democratic Burma."

The last great pro-democracy uprising in 1988 led to a military crackdown on demonstrators which resulted in an estimated killing of 3,000 students and some monks.