Burma "deserves" democracy
Friday, 04 Jan 2008 15:33
Burma is celebrating 60 years of independence
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The foreign secretary has used the 60th anniversary of Burmese independence to call for democracy in the
Asian country.
David Miliband congratulated the people of Burma on six decades of independence and described it as a "historic landmark".
But he added that they "deserve far better" than the past 45 years of military rule.
Last September Burmese people, including monks, took to the streets to peacefully protest against fuel increases, which eventually turned into a democracy movement.
The Burmese junta violently suppressed the protest, with reports of ten people being killed and thousands of monks detained.
Mr Miliband said today that this "brutal suppression" was "a sad reminder of the extent to which the Burmese people's aspirations for democracy, stability and prosperity have been frustrated".
"Only through a process of genuine national reconciliation can a better future for the people of Burma be realised," he said.
"The UK remains committed to international action on Burma.
"We support the efforts of the UN secretary general's special envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, and we are working closely with our EU partners to bring pressure for change to bear on the regime."