Gasp: US Support Boosts Calls for UN War Crimes Inquiry

[unhappycamper]

US Support Boosts Calls for UN War Crimes Inquiry
Wednesday 18 August 2010
by: Marwaan Macan-Markar | Inter Press Service | Report

Bangkok - An international campaign seeking a war crimes inquiry into the alleged systematic abuses by Burma’s military regime finally has a strong ally in U.S. President Barack Obama.

Washington revealed Tuesday that the Obama administration is throwing its weight behind the creation of a U.N. commission of inquiry into crimes against humanity and war crimes, reports the ‘Washington Post’ newspaper. "(It is) a sign of a tougher U.S. policy against a regime long accused of murdering and raping its political foes," it commented.

"What is important here is that this is not aimed at the people of Burma but at its leadership, particularly (Senior Gen.) Than Shwe," a senior administration official was quoted as having told the U.S. daily, referring to Burma’s 77-year-old strongman.

The regime in Burma, also known as Myanmar, is preparing to hold the country’s first general election in 20 years on Nov. 7, in an attempt to win political legitimacy and deflect criticism of its oppressive rule.

The Obama administration’s tougher stance against Burma, whose regime has targeted ethnic minorities along the borders of the South-east Asian nation, comes more than two weeks after a bipartisan group of U.S. senators made a similar case in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.



unhappycamper comment: Too bad we are still 'looking forward' in this country.

[Solly Mack]

1. That fits in with the it's only torture..it's only a war crime when it involves

another country..and not the U.S.

Which isn't to say the crimes of Burma's military regime shouldn't be investigated for what they were....but the mind-numbing hypocrisy of America matters.

[derby378]

2. +1000 (n/t)