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Asia Pulse- Now Is The Time For Rig



Subject: Asia Pulse- Now Is The Time For Rights Dialogue With Myanmar: Aust Fm

Now Is The Time For Rights Dialogue With Myanmar: Aust Fm
BANGKOK, Aug 25 Asia Pulse - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, says "now is
the right time" to engage Burma's military government on human rights
dialogue.
Mr Downer's comments, published in Monday's edition of the International
Herald Tribune (IHT), comes as the military is threatening to "annihilate"
dissidents calling for an uprising next month.

Pro-democracy opposition groups both in Burma and outside the country are
pressing for a "mass movement" targeted for September 9, under the 9.9.99 or
four nine's campaign.

The junta has mounted a war of words against the opposition parties,
accusing the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy of working
with dissidents and exiled students.

Burma's army commander and the junta's vice chairman, General Muang Aye, has
threatened to "annihilate those calling for an uprising" But Mr Downer,
following on from Australia's human rights commissioner Chris Sidoti's
recent visit to Rangoon, says now is the right time to engage the military
government.

"Australia believes that now is the time to engage the regime in a serious
dialogue on the protection and promotion of human rights in Burma," he said.

"Such a dialogue is one way of improving the lot of ordinary Burmese. It is
also a means of drawing the regime into discussion on issues that have
caused great concern outside Burma." He said to do nothing was to fail to
confront the problem.

"This is a first step in what will be an incremental process," Mr Downer
said.

"But we want to do what we can to encourage an improvement in human rights
in Burma." Aung San Suu Ky has expressed reservations over the Australian
initiative, saying the move was "misguided".

Mr Downer said her group would be kept informed about the developments
concerning the Australian proposal.

Student opposition groups in exile, such as the All Burma Students
Democratic Front (ABSDF), have been calling for civil unrest on September 9.

But ABSDF chairman, Naing Aung, told AAP students were trying to coordinate
with the people inside Burma with the aim of creating a mass movement.

The ABSDF has reported 150 people, including students, had been arrested
over campaign.

The military government said at least 37 persons were detained.

ASIA PULSE