Activists Urge More Pressure on Burma

UNITED NATIONS — As top Washington legislators plan to bestow the highest congressional honor on Burma's most-recognized dissident, Aung San Suu Kyi, some of her followers say that the world needs to increase attention and pressure on the regime if it is to move toward democracy.

The U.N. envoy to Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, last week highlighted the release of some of the hundreds of dissidents who participated in this autumn's street protests, the largest in several years.

But according to data released by Ms. Suu Kyi's supporters, many of the released monks were deported to rural areas. Additionally, the ruling junta has made fresh new arrests of dissident leaders since the release.

Senator McConnell, a Republican of Kentucky, and Senator Feinstein, a Democrat of California, announced this week that they planned to introduce legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Ms. Suu Kyi, according to the Washington-based newspaper The Hill. The legislation would follow up on a similar move at the House.

Last week, the Senate completed legislation that begun in the House, banning import of gems and timber from Burma, as well as barring American financial institutions from conducting business with Burma's regime, even if it is done through intermediaries.

Earlier, the European Union imposed similar restrictions on business with Burma, increasing Western pressure against the regime.

But a senior European diplomat, who briefed journalists recently on condition of anonymity, said much of the European and American financial pressure is offset by some of Burma's neighbors. He singled out India, which he said was even worse China. India, he said, has agreed to a deal in which Burma would increase its control over the porous border between the two countries. India, in return, would not join the worldwide pressure. According to the U.S. Campaign for Burma's executive director, Aung Din, 96 Buddhist monks were among those released during Mr. Gambari's visit to Burma. But only 50 of theme were allowed to return to their monasteries, while the rest were dispatched to far-flung areas.

Additionally, at least six leaders of the pro-democracy group 88 Generation Students were arrested since December 16, as well as one leader of a separate dissident group, Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network.

"We don't know their whereabouts," Mr. Din told The New York Sun in an e-mail, adding that his Rangoon sources say the authorities are planning to arrest more students after they return from the holidays. Mr. Din and others inside and outside the country have urged the Security Council to increase the pressure on the junta, specifically by imposing an arms embargo on Burma's leaders.

Mr. Gambari, who is expected to return to Burma for a visit next month, has urged the junta leaders to launch an "all-inclusive reconciliation process," leading to "a stable, prosperous, democratic Myanmar with full respect for the human rights of its people."

He has called for the release of all prisoners and told the General Assembly and the Security Council last week that after his last visit earlier in December, the regime released "some detainees," including monks.