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Mid

Russian Nuclear sites ? Illegal Chinese Prison's ?



‘We are being Prevented from Talking about Burma at UNSC’: French Ambassador
By LALIT K JHA
Thursday, May 8, 2008

China and Russia—the two permanent members of the UN Security Council that regularly veto resolutions on Burma—on Wednesday blocked a French move to initiate a discussion on the current humanitarian crisis in Burma following the devastating cyclone last week that killed tens of thousands of people.

A visibly upset French ambassador, Jean Maurice Ripert, told the media outside the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York: "I do not understand the countries which say, ‘No, we do not need a briefing.’ This is very strange."


Jean Maurice Ripert
(Photo: AP)

On Wednesday morning, Ripert requested a meeting of the Security Council on the subject of Burma and a briefing on the issue from John Holmes, the Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. The request was refused for procedural and political reasons, he said. The move came after the French foreign minister said that it was time for the UN to intervene in Burma given the gravity of the situation there.

"We are prevented even from talking about it today in the Security Council. And to be honest—we do not accept it," the French ambassador said, adding that another attempt would be made on Thursday.

Refusing to divulge the names of the countries from the Security Council that prevented a Burma debate, Ripert said: "Some countries think that we have other intentions in mind, which is not the case. I can assure you that." Diplomatic sources told The Irrawaddy that the countries in question were China and Russia.

When asked if there was any alternative to the Security Council, Ripert said France and other members of the Security Council wanted to have the discussion anywhere—even in the corridors of the UN.

"We are ready to do it wherever,” he said. “If they want to do it in the General Assembly—fine. ECOSOC?—fine. I offered to have talks in the corridor…if it was of any help. We want to act and to act fast."

The French ambassador alleged that despite the Burmese military junta saying it would accept aid the realities on the ground were totally different.

"The truth of the matter is that there are still a lot of problems … on the ground, and the international aid is not able to reach the population in need," he said.

Countries like the US, France and India were ready to deliver emergency relief, but are unable to do so because of opposition from the Burmese government, he said.

"So, we think it is time for the Security Council to express its concern and, the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, this morning did just that, calling on the government of Myanmar [Burma] to open its borders and accept the … humanitarian workers in conformity with international law," he said.

"Unfortunately, it was not possible to achieve this goal because of the opposition of two or three countries around the table," Ripert said.
The French ambassador said France and Britain were carrying out some maneuvers in the region and were ready to send men, food and medicine—anything that was needed.

"You know that there are some regions where the government of Myanmar cannot go,” he said. “We are ready to do that. We are not able to do it because they won’t give visas to humanitarian workers.

"My point is that we want the Security Council to spend some time dealing with the situation in Myanmar, putting some more pressure on the government of Myanmar," he added.

Later, talking to reporters, Deputy Permanent Representative of Britain Karen Pierce said many Security Council members expressed their sympathy to the Burmese government. Britain holds the Security Council presidency for the month of May.

One member of the council suggested a briefing on the issue, but there was no consensus, she said, without elaborating.

"All the council members did agree that the issue of humanitarian assistance was very important," she said. Pierce said Britain was in favor of a briefing.

irrawaddy.org

__________________
"Keeping quiet while monks and other peaceful protesters are murdered and jailed is not evidence of constructive engagement." - Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch.

"I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check" - M.C. Escher

obsidian

both china and russia are in bed with the burmese junta.

i would say no to the threads title. more along the line of raping the country of natural resources, i think.

Mid

I'm aghast that they continue to play politics in this manner when the scale of the disaster is so massive and obvious to the world . Thus I question whether that would be enough to make them behave in this manner ?

obsidian

yes.

china, russia and thailand have a lock on trade in the country. the potential silver lining (as decribed to me by burmese people) of this terrible and still unfolding disaster is that other countries will get involved and stop the open process of bribe and take all you want.

good2bhappy

the Junta are probably using the disaster to get rid of some of their opposition!

obsidian

(not diminsh the horror of the situation or the crimes perpetrated by the burmese junta or the govts of china, russia or thai.)

obsidian

its chaos now.

some local reports of looting in yangon. people from the delta region which was hardest hit are pouring into the monasteries/schools for housing and food. and prices are skyrocketing with ZERO governmental assistance for the victims of this disaster. indeeed the govt is reported to have stopped more affluent burmese from distrbuting rice. they seem to be struggleing to come up with an action plan that accepts the aid w/o allowing access to the country and direct observation of the horrible conditions and governmental/junta theft. remeber the constitutional vote was to have been tomorrow. the country truely hangs in the balance. north korea or perhaps cuba (pre castro's retirement) are the only national comparisons i see.

we are observing history in the making in terms of burmese govt (dis)evolution. it would be exciting if it werent so horrible in its reprocussions and involving such malice free and wonderful people. my heart aches for them.

Mid

you are probably right , my value of human life is definately larger than theirs. And I can't help thinking that the motivation for their ( Russia and China ) behaviour is setting off large alarm bells .

Mid

lets also factor in the French's good relations with Russia and the UN SC situation becomes all the more puzzling .....................

Butterfly

probably because they are afraid of undercover ops carried out by Americans under the UN pretense will infilter Burma during the relief process,

not the first time it happened,

BugginOut

That's nice.

Mid

this is junta's problem , no ?

are they so valuable to Russia and China that they will stand up for them against the obvious backdrop ?

Butterfly

^ yes, but China and Russia are making a point to sabotage any US missions on sensitive areas, just politics power play

Mid

that's what gets me , when do they realise that this is bigger than politics power play ?

already reported out-breaks of Cholera ..............

and lets throw this into the mix .................

NEWSWEEK: Your Web site has a feature titled Tan Shwe Watch that tracks sightings of Burma's military leader, Tan Shwe. What's he been doing in reaction to this calamity?

Aung Zaw: Tan Shwe is nowhere to be seen. Overseas governments, the king of Thailand and other foreign dignitaries have been sending messages of sympathy and offers of help. But no response … Nothing from Tan Shwe.

Is that a normal reaction from him?

No, it's not normal. [Some people] wonder if something's very wrong. It's sad to see how the military leaders are so uncaring. People have seen aid parcels with the name of a top military leader written on them [as if the leader had donated them], even though the assistance has nothing to do with him. This shows the true color of Burma's military leaders. They're really, really nervous, and paranoid.

snip

newsweek.com


the stakes are simply too high for a politics power play

obsidian

the junta wishes to maintain control and is having difficulty doing so with the worlds attention on them. they are ruthless and we do ourselves no good in underestimating their greed and willingness to ignore the misery of the people or do violence. kunts, they are.

obsidian

hadnt seen the cholera report.

would love to see a link if its easily found, mid. not doubting just curious.

could we also combine threads on this topic (burma), mid/mods? thanks.

Mid

Cholera stalks Myanmar storm survivors

prefer not to merge the threads please , this one is speculation ..................

obsidian

ok and thanks for the link.

kingwilly

I agree with you here Obs.

mackayae

What's the latest on Mrs. Aris?