Posted on 10/13/2005 6:35:20 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
UNITED NATIONS - The United States is making a new push for the U.N. Security Council to confront human rights abuses by the ruling military government in Myanmar, despite strong opposition from a few members, a U.S. official said Thursday.
American diplomats have gone to several key capitals around the world to try to convince other governments that the 15-nation council, the most powerful U.N. decision-making body, should discuss Myanmar, U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson said.
"The U.S. would very much like to bring this to the council if we can get sufficient support," Patterson said. "We think it belongs in the council."
Procedural rules prohibit the Council from discussing issues not on its agenda, allowing nations to block discussions they'd rather not have. In June, when the United States sought to raise the plight of Myanmar's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and 1,300 other political prisoners, Russia and China blocked it.
Patterson would not name the countries involved, but a U.S. official said the same countries were opposed this time around as in June. Japan and the Philippines may also be reluctant to discuss it.
China has long opposed discussing Myanmar, also known as Burma, because of its ties to the country, while Russia is believed to object because it's worried such talks could backfire and lead to discussion of its breakaway Chechnya province.
Myanmar's current military junta took power in 1988 after brutally crushing a pro-democracy movement. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party won a landslide victory in general elections.
Myanmar was thrust into the international spotlight again last month when former Czech President Vaclav Havel and retired South African archbishop Desmond Tutu released a report detailing abuses in the country and urging the Security Council take action.
Also Thursday, the rights watchdog Human Rights Watch released a letter in which it urged the council to take up Myanmar.
BURMA
Iran, Cuba, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, North Korea, Most former soviet republics and all mideastern states and majority of African countries suffer from the same problem!
But I wonder how far this useless UN can help!?
The Generals are far too useful to the Chinese as middlemen in the arms market and other like services for China to ever "permit" rational discussion of the situation where 80% of the people want the current government out but the thugs are in control. I wonder what percent of the Chinese farmers support the Communists now as compared to 55 years ago?
But you can see why the UN is reluctant to address it - there's no way it can be twisted into criticism of the United States.
I am in Thailand right now and was watching the Star Network last night (Owned by Rupert Murdoch of Fox News) and there was an advert about a luxurious hotel in Yangoon, no mention of Junta or Genocide or meth labs. I thought it would be illegal to promote trade with Myanmar.
This advert was followed by an appeal for money to be sent to the Pakistan Embassy to help earthquake victims - as if they would be the best people to "look after" the money.
Well, this Nick Wadhams is an Associated Press Writer. Sounds American. Doesn't he know that we don't recognize the Myanmar name?
AP has their rules, dontcha know. Those are highly unlikely to coincide with American diplomatic practice. But you can bet that they call Saigon "Ho Chi Minh City" at every opportunity. The locals call it "Saigon."
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