Sir, – Having worked in the then Burma with the United Nations, under the previous military regime of Ne Win, I have observed at close quarters the “hardness of heart” of these regimes that produce outcomes of military dictatorships and the imprisonment of the elected Aung San Suu Kyi (News, December 6th).
The international community should take the following actions: mobilise the UN General Assembly (UNGA) with a motion to invoke a “responsibility to protect” to protect the country’s people from mass atrocity crimes committed by Myanmar’s military; with the eventual outcome of a peacekeeping mission on the basis of the 2005 World Summit commitments. The UNGA could then mandate the UN Security Council, of which Ireland is a member, to operationalise the initiative. Hopefully, the UNGA decision would force an abstention vote from both China and Russia in the council.
Strengthen, broaden and activate the wide array of sanctions already passed by bilateral and multilateral bodies and have these applied to dependants of the senior leadership, particularly in educational institutions overseas.
Offer full diplomatic recognition to the National Unity Government, which is a parallel government of opposition and is undertaking civic, humanitarian and paramilitary actions within Myanmar.
Finally, enable the conservative monasteries of Buddhist monks, with links to the junta, to convince the leadership that the time or circumstances are not “propitious” for undertaking violent actions against the people. – Your, etc,
JOSEPH MULLEN,
Eastbourne, UK.