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Monk calls for weapons embargo
06/03/2008 15:32 - (SA)
Jakarta - A Myanmar monk called for a global weapons embargo on his country, telling human rights activists and foreign governments on Thursday the junta's military leaders must not be allowed to use guns against his people again.
U Awbata said he struggles to shake memories of Myanmar soldiers opening fire on fellow monks, stomping on their heads and pummelling them with batons during protests last September.
"It doesn't matter how many tears I shed," U Awbata said, speaking on behalf of dozens of monks who fled after the military crackdown and live in exile. "I cannot erase these images from my mind."
Monks initially took to the streets of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, to oppose a state-imposed fuel price hike, but their protests quickly escalated into the biggest anti-government rallies in two decades, with tens of thousands turning out.
The United Nations estimated at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained after troops were deployed to restore order. Hundreds remain in detention.
'Stop selling arms'
"The military generals have used their guns to crush and kill their own people," U Awbata said.
He called on the international community "to work together and urge those countries selling arms to Burma to stop doing so". Myanmar is also known as Burma.
The United States, which like the European Union had a weapons embargo and financial sanctions in place before the 2007 unrest, broadened restrictions after the crackdown.
U Awbata was speaking in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, at a three-day gathering bringing together activists, Myanmar exiles, and embassy officials seeking ways to increase the role of Southeast Asian countries in improving human rights in Myanmar.
Regional neighbours have condemned the Myanmar government's use of excessive force, but have a policy of engagement with the country and have shunned sanctions.
"Violence and repression is still rampant in Burma but is no longer making media headlines," conference organiser and rights group Kontras said in a statement. The world must increase pressure on the regime "to democratise and put an end to its mass abuses".
Prayers of love
After witnessing the September attack at Yangon's famed Shwedagon pagoda, U Awbata fled across the border to Thailand and then headed to Sri Lanka, where he continues to support the struggle to bring change to his homeland.
It is not clear how many died in the Shwedagon pagoda attack. U Awbata said he saw three monks killed as they were chanting prayers of love.
"When they fell down, the soldiers used their boots and stamped on the heads of the wounded monks and beat them with batons," he said, fighting back emotion.
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