United Nations Security Council Speaks Out Against Violence in Myanmar

On Thursday afternoon, the Security Council of the United Nations issued a statement saying it "deplores" the violence that has been used against peaceful demonstrators in the troubled country of Myanmar, formerly Burma.

The Council called for the early release of all of Myanmar's political prisoners and detainees, and urged the government and all other parties to work together to find a peaceful solution. In particular, the Council stressed the importance of the Myanmar government creating the "necessary conditions" to have a "genuine dialogue" with pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other parties and ethnic groups.

Also today, the Secretary-General of the U.N. had announced that he was sending Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari back to Myanmar. The Security Council, in its statement, expressed its support for Gambari's return and urged the Myanmar government to cooperate fully with him.

The Security Council also expressed support for Human Rights Council resolution S-5/1, a resolution deploring the violence in Myanmar which was passed earlier this month on October 2. And the Council said it welcomed the role played by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to Reuters, the significance of Thursday's Security Council statement is that it required the consent of all 15 members of the Security Council. In particular, it required the consent of China, which agreed to the resolution this time, despite having vetoed earlier attempts to criticize Myanmar's government. Diplomats interviewed by Reuters believed the united front demonstrated by Thursday's resolution would show Myanmar's government that it had isolated itself -- that world opinion was solidly against the government's recent actions.

In other news from Myanmar, according to the Democratic Voice of Burma, which cited a statement issued on Wednesday by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, National League for Democracy member Ko Win Shwe, who had been arrested during the government's crackdown on monk-led demonstrations, died while being interrogated.

Sources

Security Council Deplores Violence Used Against Myanmar Demonstrators, Stresses Importance of Early Release for All Political Prisoners, United Nations Department of Public Information, October 11, 2007

Human Rights Council Concludes Fifth Special Session, United Nations Press Release, October 2, 2007

U.N. Council Deplores Crushing of Myanmar Protests, by Patrick Worsnip, Reuters, October 11, 2007

NLD Member Dies During Interrogation, Democratic Voice of Burma News, October 11, 2007