Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

We all condemn the appalling scenes we have witnessed in recent days of the use of force by the military junta in Burma-Myanmar in suppressing pro-democracy protests. The brutal regime has terrorised 50 million citizens of Burma for 45 years and a similar popular peaceful protest 20 years ago saw some 3,000 people executed. Nobody knows the true number of deaths in Burma in recent days but Associated Press figures suggest 200 people have been killed and up to 2,000 detained. Thousands of monks have been removed from monasteries and are being detained in areas away from the public arena.

The people of Burma are terrified and this is particularly evident now that the revered monks cannot protest on the streets. The response of the international community has been lethargic and reflects double standards as little more than condemnation and hand-wringing has been forthcoming from major countries in the East and West so far. For example, when strategic geographical and resource interests were involved in the Middle East, the United States was quick to raise the ante and intervene economically, with sanctions, and militarily.

Ireland gave the freedom of its capital city to the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and should be to the fore in demanding urgent action by the EU and world community. We cannot simply condemn yet stand idly by. The United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, was given the run around in recent days as the junta in Burma clearly kept him away from trouble spots and proved unwilling to meet him until a semblance of normality had been restored. The meeting today, a peremptory 15 minutes, was a sham and the hope for dialogue between General Than Shwe and the pro-democracy movement was totally dashed.

The least we can expect from the international community is sustained pressure on China not to veto any UN resolution on this matter. As Deputy Michael D. Higgins said, the EU should promote a special group to visit Burma and inspect conditions.

See this speech in context