Suspend Myanmar: US Senate
Sunday, November 18, 2007
THE United States Senate unanimously adopted a resolution last Friday urging an upcoming Asean summit to suspend military-ruled Myanmar from the grouping for its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The move came as President George W Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda condemned Myanmar's military general for the violent supression in September, after talks at the White House.
First Lady Laura Bush, separately, urged foreign firms to shun a just-opened Myanmar gem show aimed at reaping foreign currency amid tightening Western sanctions.
The 10-member bloc had issued a rare rebuke to Myanmar's military junta following the crackdown, expressing "revulsion" and demanding that the generals immediately stop the use of violence against protesters.
"It is now time for Asean to back its words with actions," said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer from California, whose resolution was adopted last Friday ahead of the Asean summit in Singapore where Asean leaders plan to sign a landmark charter, which seeks to promote human rights.AFP
The move came as President George W Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda condemned Myanmar's military general for the violent supression in September, after talks at the White House.
First Lady Laura Bush, separately, urged foreign firms to shun a just-opened Myanmar gem show aimed at reaping foreign currency amid tightening Western sanctions.
The 10-member bloc had issued a rare rebuke to Myanmar's military junta following the crackdown, expressing "revulsion" and demanding that the generals immediately stop the use of violence against protesters.
"It is now time for Asean to back its words with actions," said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer from California, whose resolution was adopted last Friday ahead of the Asean summit in Singapore where Asean leaders plan to sign a landmark charter, which seeks to promote human rights.AFP
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