Burma exiles warn of growing public outrage

The Burmese government in exile has alerted global governments and organisations
about increasing anger among the population as the trumped-up case against democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi begins its second day in Rangoon this morning, Burma time.
The National Coalition Government for the Union of Burma has advised the international
community to have contingency plans in place should the situation boil over in the
coming days.
The area around the prison compound is heavily guarded, roads have been blocked off
and, markets and shops have been told to shut down, as the military regime bolsters itself
for a possible outcry at the treatment of the democracy icon and Nobel Peace Prize
laureate.
Around 70 Burmese were killed and hundreds were imprisoned following the last major
public demonstrations, known as the Saffron Revolution, broke out late in 2007.
"A concerted effort is needed," says the NCGUB's United Nations co-ordinator Dr.
Thaung Htun.
"Major powers like India, China, the US and the EU, as well as regional bodies like
ASEAN, must work together to find a solution to this untenable situation, especially as
things may escalate in the coming days." The UN provides the most effective means of
doing this, says Thaung Htun.
The UN has two viable options, say the NCGUB.
One, is the immediate visit to Rangoon of a Special Advisor to be dispatched from the
United Nations Secretary-General' s office. This advisor would work to defuse current
tensions and to secure the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Two, an emergency session of the Security Council should be convened to urgently
discuss the situation in Burma and to decide upon what collective action can be taken in
the medium to longer term.
Speaking to both proposals, the NCGUB's UN office co-ordinator, Dr. Thaung Htun says,
"This is exactly the moment the UN was established for. Now is the time when the UN
must lead, to rally all powers, and to show the world it is not prepared to sit idly by as a
massive injustice is perpetrated on the Aung San Suu Kyi and on the people of Burma."
"We call for immediate action through the UN to put an end to this outrageous action on
the part of Burma's military junta."
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