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| Southeast Asia | |
| Bush Presses for Democracy in Myanmar | |
| 2003-10-20 | |
President Bush pressed Thailand’s leader Sunday to help restore democracy in neighboring Myanmar and to push for the release of pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Bush and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, likely to take up the repressive rule of Myanmar’s junta. The United States urged Southeast Asian countries over the weekend to use "all tools at their disposal" to free Suu Kyi and bring democracy to a country which has been under a military regime since 1962. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has drawn international criticism for detaining Suu Kyi, and dragging its feet on a long-standing promise to free its political system. The current junta held elections in 1990, but refused to recognize the results after Suu Kyi’s party won.
About the trade embargo ... Bush also told Chinese President Hu Jintao in a later meeting that the United States wants Suu Kyi’s "immediate freedom" and described her as a hero, said a senior administration official. Somehow I don’t think Hu’s going to be impressed. Critics say Myanmar has been let off lightly by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which it is a member. The group has not criticized Myanmar for Suu Kyi’s detention because they considered it an internal matter. Detaining freedom fighters usually is, if you have the correct mind set. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Oh great, now Bush wants Democracy for another third world country. Time to call my friends to protest the maniac Bush! |
| Posted by: typical lefty 2003-10-20 10:27:30 AM |