Irish efforts to calm Burma crisis

IRISH Government diplomats were yesterday making behind-the-scenes efforts with Asian countries in an urgent bid to calm the worsening political situation in Burma.

As the international outcry at the military clampdown on protesters grows, the issue was also raised in the Dáil yesterday.

Repeating calls for an end to the bloodshed, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern launched a diplomatic offensive with officials in China, India and other countries with influence in southeast Asia.

Irish diplomats are also expected to hold talks with the Chinese and Indian ambassadors in Dublin to stress the need for their governments to maintain pressure on the Burmese regime.

In addition, Irish Embassies in southeast Asia are expected to use official contacts with countries in the region.

Mr Ahern said: “Ireland will continue to voice its gravest concern at what is happening in Burma/Myanmar. We will continue to use our diplomats at home and abroad to exert whatever pressure we can apply.

“Both China and India have influence with Burma/Myanmar and my officials will be stressing with their ambassadors the positive and important role their respective countries can play to secure a peaceful outcome. It is still not too late to end the bloodshed.”

Mr Ahern will raise the Burma crisis next week at the United Nations in New York and in talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.

In the Dáil, Tánaiste Brian Cowen said he hoped there would not be a repeat of events in 1988 when 3,000 protesters were killed.

Deputising for the Taoiseach, he told TDs: “It is a regime which is a pariah in the international community, and quite rightly so. It is proper that we send out support and solidarity to those who are trying to maintain basic civil and human rights for the Burma people.

“It is a regime which has cut itself off from all international engagement,” he said.