7/12/07 Human Rights Group Calls for International Pressure on Burma

Human Rights Group Calls for International Pressure on Burma

By Violet Cho


Human Rights Watch has called for stronger actions, including by the United Nations Security Council, to press Burma to undertake major reforms, following the release of its report which says the regime killed more people than it claimed during pro-democracy demonstrations.
The Human Rights Watch report, “Crackdown: Repression of the 2007 Popular Protest in Burma,” claims 20 people were killed during the national uprising in Burma. The junta claims 10 people were killed.
At a news briefing on December 3, National Police Chief Maj-Gen Khin Yi said, “Ten people died and 14 were injured during the monk protests from 26 to 30 September. The security members handled the situation in accord with the procedures.”
The 140-page HRW report is based on more than 100 interviews with eyewitnesses in Burma and Thailand. It also presents a chronology of key events.
Brad Adams, the Asia director at HRW, said, “It’s time for the world to impose a UN arms embargo and financial sanctions, to hurt Burma’s leaders until they make real changes.”
“Countries like China, India and Thailand have the responsibility to take action to help hold the generals accountable and to end this long nightmare of military repression,” he said.
The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) claimed that 2,927 people, including 596 monks, were detained and almost all have been released. It said nine people have been sentenced to prison terms and 59 laypeople and 21 monks remain in detention.
HRW said that hundreds of protestors, including monks and members of the ’88 Generation students group remain unaccounted for.
“The crackdown in Burma is far from over,” said Adams. “Harsh repression continues, and the government is still lying about the extent of the deaths and detentions.”
The report noted that the crackdown was carried out in part by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), an organization the Burmese military is reportedly preparing to use as a base to form a future civilian government.

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