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Laura Bush visits refugees, blasts Burmese junta

(BangkokPost.com - compiled from agency reports)

Mae Sot - US First Lady Laura Bush, a vocal critic of the Burmese military government, urged China and other countries to join the US in imposing sanctions against the military dictators.

She toured the Mae La Refugee Camp for mostly Karen people on Thursday and called on the military regime to open dialogue with the opposition. 

The president, meanwhile, met in Bangkok with exiled Burmese dissidents and politicians, a day before the 20-year anniversary of the infamous 8-8 pro-democracy uprising, which was crushed by the army, leaving 3,000 dead. 

On Friday, activists in Burma will silently mark two decades since the August 8, 1988 uprising, when student, activists, Buddhist monks and even young military cadets went into the streets, only to face a massacre by the army.

Last year, protesters again poured onto the streets to rally against economic hardship and junta rule. This time, 31 people were killed in the resulting crackdown, the United Nations has said.

Highlighting abuses in military-run Burma has been the chief cause of Mrs Bush. With her daughter Barbara, she made her way through a muddy settlement which is home to tens of thousands who have fled the junta's repression.

She thanked the Thai government for allowing the nine camps housing more than 120,000 refugees that string the border with Myanmar.

"If we could see a change in the Burmese government ... so people could move home in safety, that would be the best result," Mrs Bush told camp leaders.

"The best solution would be if General Than Shwe's regime would start real dialogue," she said.

She was greeted by Karen performing song and dance in traditional dress.

About 35,000 refugees huddle in Mae La camp at the foot of forested mountains.

Mae La is on the site of the first refugee camp, which was set up in 1984 as the Burmese army advanced into Karen state and forced thousands over the border.

The United States has pledged to resettle 26,811 refugees. The Bush women,m swaddled in shawls woven by the refugees – also visited a class teaching the people about life in America.

But Mrs Bush said: "Most people do not want to have to move to third countries. They would rather move to their home villages in safety and security."

President Bush, who arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday, hailed his wife's efforts.

"We seek an end to tyranny in Burma," he said in a speech on US policy in Asia at the Queen Sirkit Centre.

"This noble cause has many devoted champions, and I happen to be married to one of them ... America reiterates our call on Burma's military junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners."

Aung San Suu Kyi led her National League for Democracy (NLD) party to election victory in 1990, but instead of recognising the result the junta kept her under house arrest, where she has now spent most of the last 19 years.

Irrawaddy internet website

7/8/2008

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