SA condemns Myanmar violence
Michael Appel
1 October 2007
South Africa has joined the international community in expressing grave concern at the recent violence in Myanmar.
Economic and social hardship following 45 years of military rule in the south Asian country have prompted tens of thousands of civilians, with Buddhist monks at the forefront, to take to the streets of the capital city of Yangon in protest marches.
Myanmar riot police and security forces have subsequently cracked down heavily on protestors, raiding monasteries and beating and detaining monks and protestors. A number of monks and protestors, as well as a Japanese journalist, have been killed in the conflict so far.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sue van der Merwe summoned the ambassador of the Union of Myanmar in Pretoria on Saturday to convey the South African government's views on the crisis.
"South Africa is alarmed by the situation in Myanmar and condemns in the strongest terms the violence that has now become a feature of
developments in the country," Van der Merwe said.
Van der Merwe said the SA government continued to believe in the inalienable right of the people of Myanmar, as with all people around the world, to engage in peaceful protest action to highlight their plight.
"The South African government therefore calls on the authorities in Myanmar to respect this fundamental right of the people of Myanmar, and to desist from further acts that will only fuel and exacerbate the current situation."
South Africa was party to the decision by the United Nations Security Council last week to dispatch UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Myanmar to evaluate the situation.
Van der Merwe said the government hoped the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland would deal vigorously with the situation unfolding in Myanmar.
In addition, the South African government has urged authorities in Myanmar to engage in negotiations with the opposition in the country with a view to finding a
long-lasting solution to the challenges facing that country.
"The long-term solution to the current challenges facing Myanmar lies in a negotiated political solution between the government and the opposition," Van der Merwe said.
Source: BuaNews
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