Source:  www.assistnews.net

Date:  September 26, 2007

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) -- A human rights group has condemned the crackdown against protestors in Burma and called on the international community to take urgent action to bring change to Burma.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is encouraging Christians around the world to pray for Burma and urged leaders of international denominations to speak out.

Burma, known also as Myanmar, is a southeast Asian country of about 50 million people that was formerly known as Burma (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/myanmar/index.html?inline=nyt-geo).

CSW reported that earlier this week Burma's military regime began attacking and arresting Buddhist monks and civilians following continuing demonstrations in Rangoon and other cities. Despite the crackdown, several thousand demonstrators, led by Buddhist monks, continued to march.

According to CSW, police have used batons and tear gas, and fired warning shots into the air. Some monks and nuns have been seriously injured. At least 20 prominent dissidents have been arrested. This followed the prior detention of over 200 activists There are also reports that telephone lines have been cut.

On Monday CSW released a report of its visit to the India-Burma border. CSW representatives were accompanied on this visit by two British Parliamentarians, John Bercow MP and Baroness Caroline Cox.

Benedict Rogers, CSW's Advocacy Officer for South Asia, who returned last week from a visit to the India-Burma border, said in a news release that CSW is outraged by the Burmese military regime's response to protests.

Rogers said, "The use of force against peaceful protestors in this way is completely unacceptable, and should be condemned by the international community. The courage of the Burmese people who continue to defy this brutal regime inspires our profound respect. We call on the United Nations Security Council to respond to the current crisis by urgently passing a binding resolution requiring the regime to release political prisoners, free democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, desist from brutal suppression of human rights and engage in meaningful dialogue for a transition to democracy."

Rogers said CSW is also calling on the UN Security Counsel to set specific deadlines to monitor progress, and to outline possible sanctions if the regime fails to meet the demands.

He added, "We welcome the measure President Bush outlined yesterday, and call on the United Kingdom to take the lead within the European Union in imposing targeted sanctions on the regime. We urge China, India and the Association of South East Asian Nations to use their influence to bring positive change to Burma."

Stuart Windsor, CSW's National Director, said, "We urge leaders of Christian denominations around the world, and individual Christians everywhere, to fulfil their Biblical mandate for justice by speaking up and praying for the suffering people of Burma at this time. This is a momentous and critical time for Burma, and it is vital that we seize this opportunity to support the movement for freedom."

CSW is a human rights organization promoting religious liberty for everyone.

For more information, visit www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/world/asia/27myanmar.html?ref=asia and www.csw.org.uk