Quote:Downer blasts 'insensitive' Burma
Article from: Agence France-Presse
From correspondents in Manila

July 31, 2007 04:20pm

AUSTRALIA added to mounting criticism of Burma today, calling the ruling junta so "insensitive" to world opinion that no form of pressure had any effect on its dismal human rights record.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he had expressed his frustrations directly in a meeting with his Burmese counterpart Nyan Win on the sidelines of a regional security summit in Manila.

"It seems to me that nothing has worked,'' Mr Downer said afterwards at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Manila.

"There have been sanctions, there has been so-called constructive engagement, there have been human rights dialogues, there have been visits, there have been representations, there have been threats,'' Mr Downer said.

"But nothing moves the leadership of Burma.''

Fierce objections from Burma helped water down language in ASEAN's draft charter to create a regional human rights commission, and the country has repeatedly snubbed calls to make good on pledges to move toward democracy.

The country has also ignored international pressure to free democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent most of the last decade and a half in detention.

"What amazes me about Burma is that... the leadership seems completely insensitive to and impervious to the views of outside world. And I don't mean Western countries, I mean ASEAN countries,'' Mr Downer said.

"I think that's a shame. I think they should listen to what the broader community of countries in South-East Asia has to say.''

Mr Downer said he hoped China, India and other countries would exert more pressure on Burma to help ASEAN push for reforms in the state, which has been run by the military for more than 40 years.