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Published on January 26, 2008

"We call on all those attending the World Economic Forum to demonstrate that, while the regime may be indifferent to the suffering of the Burmese people, the world is not," David Miliband, Condoleezza Rice and Bernard Kouchner said in a joint statement.

"We ask you to support the return to Burma by UN Special Adviser [Ibrahim] Gambari as soon as possible, and to urge the regime to cooperate fully with him and the UN. We call on the regime to act on the recommendations of UN Human Rights Envoy [Paulo] Pinheiro; to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; and to launch a substantive, time-bound dialogue with democratic leaders and ethnic minority representatives, as called for in Aung San Suu Kyi's statement of November 8."

That the statement was issued in Davos, Switzerland, underlines the importance of the Burmese issue in the eyes of the three countries, they said.

"The fact that we have chosen to write about this issue, with so many competing priorities, should underline the strength of our governments' determination to support the people of Burma in their pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future. We have repeatedly made clear that the situation in Burma cannot continue, and that we remain committed to helping the people of Burma.

"... We cannot afford to forget. We must convince the Burmese regime to meet the demands of the international community and respect the basic rights of Burma's people."

The UN Security Council in October spelled out its expectations and reiterated those expectations on January 17. First, the early release of all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi, and the creation of conditions for a genuine

dialogue between the Government and the opposition.

Second, full cooperation and constructive engagement with the United Nations. Third, the need for the regime to address the economic, humanitarian and human-rights concerns of the Burmese people.

 Several months on, however, the regime has met none of these demands, the joint statement said.

"A unified call for genuine and peaceful political reconciliation and reform will be heard in Burma.

"We would not live up to our values if we ignored Burma's plight," it said.

The Nation