A group of about 30 Burmese activists in the United Kingdom held a demonstration on the 29 Aug 08 in front of the Singapore Embassy. The demonstrators were members and supporters of Burma’s Kachin National Organisation.
Holding placards which read “Support the People, Not the Dictators“, and “Singapore, Please Renew Burmese Visas“, the group called on the Singapore government to stop its discrimination against Burmese nationals living in the island state, and stop supporting the Burmese junta through its commercial and diplomatic dealings.
Earlier on 22 Aug, some Burmese residents held a press conference in Singapore at Peninsula Excelsior Hotel in a bid at publicizing the plight of 6 of their compatriots who have had the renewal applications for their PR re-entry permits, employment passes, work permits, or social visit passes turned down. All 6 Burmese patriots had earlier been involved in peaceful demonstrations against the Burmese Junta’s murderous crackdown on monks and innocent civilians in 2007, and the “Vote NO” campaign against the sham referendum on the new military-drafted Constitution for Burma during late April and early May 2008.
Protest were also held by Burmese activists in India on 01 Sept 2008. They were protesting against the Singapore Govenment’s ill-treatment of Burmese activists and against Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s comments on Aung San Suu Kyi.
On 25 Aug, the Thai PM met Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s top envoy to Myanmar, and told the diplomat that efforts to engage the Burmese junta would be more productive if Aung San Suu Kyi was left off the agenda. He said, “Europe uses Aung San Suu Kyi as a tool. If it’s not related to Aung San Suu Kyi, you can have deeper discussions with Myanmar”.
“Aung San Suu Kyi is one thing. The (international community) should talk about how to bring democracy in Myanmar and focus on the constitution and the elections,” he added.
Holding placards which read “Support the People, Not the Dictators“, and “Singapore, Please Renew Burmese Visas“, the group called on the Singapore government to stop its discrimination against Burmese nationals living in the island state, and stop supporting the Burmese junta through its commercial and diplomatic dealings.
On 25 Aug, the Thai PM met Ibrahim Gambari, the UN’s top envoy to Myanmar, and told the diplomat that efforts to engage the Burmese junta would be more productive if Aung San Suu Kyi was left off the agenda. He said, “Europe uses Aung San Suu Kyi as a tool. If it’s not related to Aung San Suu Kyi, you can have deeper discussions with Myanmar”.
“Aung San Suu Kyi is one thing. The (international community) should talk about how to bring democracy in Myanmar and focus on the constitution and the elections,” he added.
