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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Diplomat resigns over Burma monks | Diplomat resigns over Burma monks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Burmese diplomat has told the BBC how "appalling" treatment of Buddhist monks during last month's protests forced him to resign from the military regime. | A Burmese diplomat has told the BBC how "appalling" treatment of Buddhist monks during last month's protests forced him to resign from the military regime. |
| Ye Min Tun, a foreign ministry official for 10 years, said Burma's generals had ignored the people's desire for them to negotiate with opposition activists. | |
| At least 10 people died and thousands were arrested when troops used force to end peaceful anti-government marches. | At least 10 people died and thousands were arrested when troops used force to end peaceful anti-government marches. |
| Burma's leaders have now appointed a go-between for opposition talks. | Burma's leaders have now appointed a go-between for opposition talks. |
| An official had been charged with liaising with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, state media reported on Monday. | |
| I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life Ye Min TunBurmese official | |
| Ms Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, welcomed the appointment, saying: "Finding a solution through dialogue is the natural way to help the people and the country." | |
| The party won a landslide election victory in 1990, but the ruling generals have never allowed them to govern. | |
| Correspondents say the move, recommended by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari when he visited the country last week, seems to be a concession to international pressure. | Correspondents say the move, recommended by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari when he visited the country last week, seems to be a concession to international pressure. |
| Countries including the US, UK and France are campaigning for sanctions against the regime, but Burma's neighbours oppose such action. | Countries including the US, UK and France are campaigning for sanctions against the regime, but Burma's neighbours oppose such action. |
| On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry reiterated its position, saying "sanctions or pressure will not help to solve the issue". | On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry reiterated its position, saying "sanctions or pressure will not help to solve the issue". |
| 'Decisive factor' | 'Decisive factor' |
| The government's crackdown has seen curfews imposed in Burma's main cities, and frequent night-time raids on monasteries and private homes. | The government's crackdown has seen curfews imposed in Burma's main cities, and frequent night-time raids on monasteries and private homes. |
| Ye Min Tun, who describes himself as a "good Buddhist", sent a letter of resignation to the Burmese embassy in London. | Ye Min Tun, who describes himself as a "good Buddhist", sent a letter of resignation to the Burmese embassy in London. |
| In an interview with the BBC, he described the crackdown on the September protesters as "horrible". | In an interview with the BBC, he described the crackdown on the September protesters as "horrible". |
| "I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life. The government is arresting and beating the peaceful Buddhist monks." | "I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life. The government is arresting and beating the peaceful Buddhist monks." |
| He said he had hoped that the protests would force the generals to come to an agreement with the opposition. | He said he had hoped that the protests would force the generals to come to an agreement with the opposition. |
| "This revolution, this incident seemed to be the decisive factor that could persuade the government to go to the negotiation table. | "This revolution, this incident seemed to be the decisive factor that could persuade the government to go to the negotiation table. |
| "But actually the government ignored the reality," he said. | "But actually the government ignored the reality," he said. |