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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Scottish demos to support Burmese | Scottish demos to support Burmese |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Demonstrations have taken place in Edinburgh and Glasgow in support of the protesting monks in Burma. | |
| The cities joined about 70 others around the world in Amnesty International's Global Day of Action. | |
| Scotland's Buddhist community, students and others gathered in Glasgow's George Square and an event took place in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh. | |
| Participants dressed in red in solidarity with the monks and called for democracy and human rights for all. | Participants dressed in red in solidarity with the monks and called for democracy and human rights for all. |
| The Edinburgh event involved a candle-lit vigil at the Aung San Suu Kyi tree beneath the floral clock in Princes Street Gardens West. | |
| This day of action is to show that this crisis has not gone away Ko AungFormer Burmese student leader | This day of action is to show that this crisis has not gone away Ko AungFormer Burmese student leader |
| The magnolia tree was planted in honour of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when she was awarded Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 2005. | The magnolia tree was planted in honour of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when she was awarded Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 2005. |
| In Glasgow, Christian groups and students from Caledonian, Strathclyde and Glasgow universities joined with Buddhist's the George Square demonstration. | In Glasgow, Christian groups and students from Caledonian, Strathclyde and Glasgow universities joined with Buddhist's the George Square demonstration. |
| The Venerable Rewatha, a Glasgow-based Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, said: "We would like to request the Scottish Government to please become involved with world leaders and also show their solidarity with the Scottish people who are campaigning." | The Venerable Rewatha, a Glasgow-based Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, said: "We would like to request the Scottish Government to please become involved with world leaders and also show their solidarity with the Scottish people who are campaigning." |
| Over the last few weeks, tens of thousands of Burmese people have taken to the streets to protest against their country's unelected government. | Over the last few weeks, tens of thousands of Burmese people have taken to the streets to protest against their country's unelected government. |
| The peaceful protests have been met by a harsh military crackdown, mass arrests and the shooting of unarmed civilians. | The peaceful protests have been met by a harsh military crackdown, mass arrests and the shooting of unarmed civilians. |
| 'Brutal repression' | 'Brutal repression' |
| Although official reports speak about nine people killed, Amnesty International fears the actual number of fatalities is far higher while in Rangoon at least 1,000 people are believed to have been arrested. | Although official reports speak about nine people killed, Amnesty International fears the actual number of fatalities is far higher while in Rangoon at least 1,000 people are believed to have been arrested. |
| John Watson, Scottish programme director for Amnesty International, said: "The Burmese people have taken to the streets to demand peace, democracy and respect for human rights but have received only brutal repression from an unelected and unpopular dictatorship. | John Watson, Scottish programme director for Amnesty International, said: "The Burmese people have taken to the streets to demand peace, democracy and respect for human rights but have received only brutal repression from an unelected and unpopular dictatorship. |
| "These brave people must not be abandoned by the international community." | "These brave people must not be abandoned by the international community." |
| The monks' protests have been met with a harsh military crackdown | The monks' protests have been met with a harsh military crackdown |
| Ko Aung, a Burmese student leader from the 1988 demonstrations, said: "This day of action is to show that this crisis has not gone away. | Ko Aung, a Burmese student leader from the 1988 demonstrations, said: "This day of action is to show that this crisis has not gone away. |
| "Our friends, families and spiritual leaders are in jail cells today at risk of torture. | "Our friends, families and spiritual leaders are in jail cells today at risk of torture. |
| "The UN Security Council must act now to end the crackdown and must keep focused on this crisis until we know the people of Burma are safe. The international community must not desert them now." | "The UN Security Council must act now to end the crackdown and must keep focused on this crisis until we know the people of Burma are safe. The international community must not desert them now." |
| Juliette Daigre, a Burma campaigner based in Edinburgh, said: "We want the people of Burma to know that Edinburgh stands with them, and to show the Burmese government that we are watching their every move. | Juliette Daigre, a Burma campaigner based in Edinburgh, said: "We want the people of Burma to know that Edinburgh stands with them, and to show the Burmese government that we are watching their every move. |
| "We also hope the protests will force the UK Government to do more to demand an end to the military crackdown and get the UN Security Council to act." | "We also hope the protests will force the UK Government to do more to demand an end to the military crackdown and get the UN Security Council to act." |
| Amnesty International is urging the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Burma and to urge the immediate release of peaceful protestors. | Amnesty International is urging the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Burma and to urge the immediate release of peaceful protestors. |