United Nations envoy Ibrahim Gambari has flown into Myanmar in an attempt to persuade its ruling generals to use negotiations instead of guns to end mass protests.
The arrival follows days of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations led by the country’s monks which have been met by a crackdown by troops. At least 10 people have died.
Countries across the world, as well as Pope Benedict, have called for a peaceful end to the situation, while U.S. President George W. Bush urged for a tightening of sanctions against the ruling junta.
He also called on neighbouring China, the closest the junta has to an ally, and key trading partner, to use its influence.
The military regime said its security forces had handled the protests “with care, using the least possible force”.
Do you you think sanctions are the answer, or should Myanmar’s leaders be encouraged to bring about change through negotiations?
Should the UN have acted sooner, or is it an internal matter for the Myanmar regime?
How do you see the situation ending?
Send us your comments.
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Sanctions only work against the poor and needy people of Burma but not against the military regime so long as the regime has trading partners like China, India, Thailand, Singapore and many other Southeast Asian nations. The regime doesn’t give a hoot to the sanctions placed by the US or other western countries.
I don’t believe that Mr. Ibrahim Gambari can achieve much about the situation in Burma either. Mr. Razali Ismail, the former UN special envoy to Burma had tried doing the same thing for two years and had given up.
However, there’s hope. If only China, India, Thailand, Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asian countries would cease doing business with this ruthless military regime, it would definitely make a major impact. ASEAN countries should consider stripping Burma from its membership as well.
Russia should also stop selling weapons to Burma.
One other thing that average Burmese citizens can do is to stop bribing government officials and military personnel for any little thing they want done in their daily lives.
The Burmese generals call themselves Buddhists but they are not. Imagine Buddhist generals giving orders to kill innocent people including monks. The recent incidents that took place in Burma will be remembered as one of the worst kinds in world history.
- Posted by Mimi Aung