Burma urged to end violence
Burma’s main political and economic allies, China and Japan, joined other nations around the world in urging the country to use peaceful means to restore stability.
The US called on “all civilised nations” to press Burma’s leaders to end their crackdown on demonstrators.
Japan, Burma’s biggest aid contributor, lodged a protest over the death of a Japanese journalist, who was among at least nine people killed on Thursday when soldiers fired automatic weapons into a crowd of unarmed demonstrators. A special envoy from the United Nations flew to Burma, also known as Myanmar, today to persuade the junta to start a dialogue with the opposition.
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said in a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that China was “very much concerned about the current situation” in Burma, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“China hopes all parties in Myanmar exercise restraint and use peaceful means to restore its stability as soon as possible,” Wen said. He added the international community should offer constructive help to resolve the situation.
Only small numbers of protesters in Burma took to the streets today as troops consolidated their control. Internet connections were cut.
The White House accused the government of attempting to hide the violence, and urged “all civilised nations” to pressure the junta to stop it.
“They don’t want the world to see what is going on there,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said on Friday.
Bush and Brown talked about the situation via a video teleconference on Friday and agreed on the importance of the visit to Burma by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.
Stanzel said they agreed on “the need for countries around the world to continue to make their views clear to the junta.”
Gambari arrived at the Rangoon airport today and was being briefed by UN officials. He was expected to head immediately to Naypyitaw, where the country’s military leaders are based.
Western diplomats were already complaining that Gambari would probably not be able to meet with senior opposition members or – apparently – the country’s leader, General Than Shwe. His schedule was being set by Burma’s government.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura protested the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai, 50, calling it “extremely regrettable,” in a meeting with his Burmese counterpart, Nyan Win, at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry official.
Nyan Win said he was “extremely sorry” for the death, the official said.
Japan, Burma’s largest aid donor, has so far ruled out immediate sanctions against the country but Komura suggested tougher steps could be taken.
Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka was to visit Burma tomorrow.
Burma’s government says 10 people have been killed since it began cracking down on demonstrators on Wednesday. Brown said the number could be much higher.
“I am afraid we believe the loss of life is far greater than is being reported so far,” he said in a televised statement.
Dissident groups have put the number as high as 200, although that number could not be verified.
South Africa’s governing African National Congress said that the junta’s reaction “further deepens the political crisis in Burma, and undermines the legitimate demands of the Burmese people”.
“It calls for an end to repression and human rights violations, and the reinstatement of the country’s elected representatives,” the ANC said in a statement today.
Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont scrapped a prepared speech about Thai democracy at the UN General Assembly at the last minute on Friday and instead delivered an uncharacteristic attack against Burma, his country’s neighbour, according to Thailand’s The Nation newspaper.
He said both countries, being Buddhist, share beliefs in non-violence and tolerance.
Demonstrators around the world urged Burma to end the crackdown and called on China to use its influence with the country’s generals to broker change.
About 30 people, including Burmese citizens, rallied outside the Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong.
“As far as I see this fight, it’s good,” a Burmese immigrant said. “People stepped out, but I don’t think the government will give up easily,” he said, declining to be identified for fear of retaliation on his family back home.
The protesters also read out a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao, urging Beijing to use its influence to persuade the Burmese government to end its crackdown.
Dozens also marched in New Delhi to condemn the violence and call for the Indian government to intervene.
In Oslo, Norway, several thousand people clad in red staged a demonstration outside the Nobel Peace Centre on Friday evening. Among the demonstrators was former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, who also called for China to use its leverage with the military regime in Burma.
“China has not done enough, and it holds the key,” Bondevik told Norwegian news agency NTB.
