U.S. talks tough on Myanmar as UN dithers
  
By Steven Edwards 
October 11, 2007
CanWest News Service 
Original Source: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=258e0dcc-d1e5-47ae-a4e7-705b606902b5&k=35696 http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=258e0dcc-d1e5-47ae-a4e7-705b606902b5&k=35696 

UNITED NATIONS - In sharply contrasting approaches, Washington threatened new sanctions against the military junta in Myanmar Wednesday while the United Nations haggled over the wording of its first statement on the crisis.

As the White House demanded a probe into the death of a Myanmar opposition leader arrested by the junta, the UN Security Council appeared to need another day to agree on its diplomatic response to the weeks-old crisis.

The United States strongly condemns the atrocities committed by the junta and calls for a full investigation into the death of Win Shwe during his detention in Burma, said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe, using the name for Myanmar that is preferred by the country's government-in-exile.

But China, Myanmar's leading trading partner, used its veto-wielding perch on the UN Security Council to resist western-led calls for that body to be similarly forceful.

There was never any hope that China would agree to a legally enforceable council resolution. But Beijing went so far as to blunt language proposed by the United States, Britain and France. The three western powers used their permanent council seats to push for a non-binding statement condemning the Myanmar regime for its crackdown, but China demanded that weaker terms be used.

President George W. Bush is expected to ratchet up U.S. pressure even more next week when he presents the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of China-controlled Tibet, with the Congressional Gold Medal.

As de facto leader of the world's Buddhists, the Dalai Lama has been a leading voice in denouncing the Myanmar junta's crackdown, which began with attacks on Buddhist monks leading peaceful pro-democracy protests.

A new draft UN statement still under discussion Wednesday night said the council deplores the violent repression by the government of Myanmar of peaceful demonstrations, including the use of force against religious figures and institutions.

The U.S. State Department said it had been told the junta cremated the body of Win Shwe, 42, at the detention centre where he had been interrogated.

We continue to hear reports that detainees are being held in deplorable conditions and are subject to abuse, said spokesman Sean McCormack.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino shot back at China's claim that imposing sanctions is inappropriate.

We know that sanctions work, she said.

The strongest UN response to date has been the visit to Myanmar of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who returned to New York last week to say the junta had agreed to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic opposition leader who has long been held under house arrest.

But a spokesman for her National League for Democracy said Wednesday they had yet to hear from the general whom the junta named to take part in the meeting.

Laura Bush, the U.S. president's wife, is expected to attend the White House ceremony for the Dalai Lama next week, having become an outspoken activist on Myanmar.

The world watches and waits, she wrote in an article published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal as she called on the junta step down and allow a democratic government to take over the country.