Burma: what next?
Morning / afternoon / evening everyone -- Peter Dobbie here with news of todays World Have Your Say -- on air @ the usual time, here on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service.
Today, one topic and one topic only: Burma; and what in your opinion should the outside world be doing now ?
The crisis in that country gets worse by the hour: thousands of Buddhist monks and other protesters have been marching in Rangoon despite a crackdown that has reportedly killed at least one monk.
Monks' shaved heads stained with blood could be seen at the Shwedagon Pagoda where police charged against protesters demanding the end of military rule.
Some marchers started for the city centre while others headed for the home of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
What we're discussing here is a battle of wills between Burma's two most powerful institutions, the military and the monk-hood, and the outcome is far from clear.
But what can or should the rest of the world do now?
The UN Security Council has called a meeting for 1900 GMT today to discuss the clashes, and earlier the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for talks with a view to sending an envoy to the country. He vowed there would be "no impunity" for human rights violators.
We want to know what you think ? How can the UN pressure the Burmese authorities into doing the right thing ? Gordon Browns talk of an envoy: how would that work?
Beyond diplomatic platitudes has the time come for India and China to get on board and, at least, start sending out stronger signals?
The US already has an arms ban on Burma, a ban on all exports, a ban on new investment and a ban on financial services. Where else should this screw-tightening go now? Tell us your thoughts.
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Later, Peter :-)
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