Over the past two weeks, hundreds of people have taken part in some of the largest demonstrations held in Burma in a decade.
The protests were sparked by the military regime’s decision to raise fuel prices by 500 per cent. In response, the regime has launched a severe crackdown on protestors. Over 150 people have been arrested, including almost all the leading pro-democracy activists, and demonstrators have been savagely attacked by police and pro-junta mobs.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (National)
Burma: Prime Minister Statement
2 September 2007
I deeply deplore the Burmese government's violent supression of peaceful demonstrations. I call upon the Burmese authorities to release immediately all those detained merely for protesting at the hardship imposed on them by the government's economic mismanagement and failure to uphold fundamental human rights. I also reiterate the British Government's call for the release of all political prisoners, including Nobel Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi who has now spent almost 12 years of her life under house arrest.
As the lives of ordinary Burmese people continue to deteriorate, it is all the more important that all countries and organisations with an influence over the regime impress upon the generals the need for an early transition to democratic rule, full respect for human rights and genuine national reconciliation.
I support calls for the grave situation in Burma to be considered by the UN Security Council at the earliest opportunity. I also call for the UN General Assembly to address this issue. We give our full support to the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's good offices mission. It is time for the UN human rights bodies to give this alarming situation the attention it so patently deserves.
I am asking the Foreign Secretary to discuss this issue with our European partners next week.
I will seek an early opportunity to raise the situation in Burma with my counterparts in the key regional countries and with our partners in the EU and the US.
