In the continued crackdown by the military junta on protesters in Rangoon, the military have been broadcasting warnings that they should go home or face 'serious action'.
Fresh protests which began this morning have followed reported overnight raids of six monasteries in which soldiers smashed windows and doors and beat sleeping monks. Hundreds of monks were taken away in military trucks.
Two members of the National League for Democracy the party lead by Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested last night.
Protesters poured into the streets of Rangoon today in a strong act of defiance. As they sang nationalist songs and and hurled abuse at soldiers their actions were answered with gunfire and teargas from the military. It is unclear how many deaths have taken place but it is reported that 5 people were killed yesterday and a further 9 killed today a midst the fresh clashes in Rangoon.
IUSY strongly condemns the action of the military junta to quash the peaceful protests and calls upon the junta to show restraint and work towards ensuring peace. IUSY fears that a repeat of the violence in 1988, when troops opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing thousands will become a reality if the junta does not listen to calls from world leaders including China for restraint.
IUSY welcomes the prompt response from the United Nations (UN), which held an emergency meeting yesterday in New York on the occasion of the UN General Assembly to discuss the situation in Burma. IUSY is concerned that continued actions by Russia and China within the UN are blocking stronger international action in ensuring peace and democracy in Burma. However IUSY welcomes the decision by the UN to send its special envoy Ibrahim Gambari to the region, and calls on the Burmese authorities to receive him "as soon as possible".
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