Western powers slam Myanmar repression in UN draft statement

Key western members of the UN Security Council late Friday circulated a draft statement condemning the "violent repression" by Myanmar's military regime of anti-government protests.
"The Security Council condemns the violent repression by the Government of Myanmar of peaceful demonstrations, including the use of force against religious figures and institutions," said the text drafted by the United States, Britain and France and submitted to other members of the council.
It noted "with concern continuing mass detentions, and calls on the Government of Myanmar to exercise utmost restraint and to cease repressive measures, as an essential first step in de-escalating the situation."
The non-binding statement, which requires consensus by all 15 council members to be adopted, was circulated after the council heard a briefing by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent four-day mission to Myanmar. It is to be discussed by the Security Council at expert level on Monday.
The text welcomed Gambari's mission and his briefing to the council. It called for "the immediate release of those detained, and ... for those injured to be allowed access to proper medical care, and for a full account to be provided of those jailed, missing, or killed following the recent peaceful demonstrations."
It also urged Myanmar's rulers to release all political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, "in order to permit dialogue with leaders of all political and ethnic groups in support of an inclusive process of genuine reconciliation, dialogue and democratisation."
It stressed the need for the ruling junta "to engage without further delay in such a process, with the direct support of the United Nations." And it underscored the Council's "support for the early return to Myanmar of Mr Gambari, in order to maintain momentum and maximise the prospects for concrete progress." Gambari earlier Friday said he now planned to return to Myanmar before mid-November, the time he had earlier arranged. The draft also contained a council appeal to the ruling generals "to ensure full and unlimited access for Mr Gambari during his visit.