Madam, - The widespread international vocal support for the demonstrations currently taking place in Burma is to be welcomed, from Dermot Ahern's praising of all those involved to Condoleeza Rice's assertion that "the Burmese people deserve. . .the right to be able to live in freedom".
In all instances there is emphasis on the importance of democracy, and the hope that these protests will result in Burma's adoption of a democratic system.
This raises an interesting question. If similar protests by Tibetan monks were to take place across the border in China, would they, too, be supported by the international community? Would similar calls for democracy be heard - or would the world back down from a China on the rise, whose markets have become so important to the West?
One need only look at the apathetic political responses to democratic Taiwan and its wishes to be granted a voice on the world stage to gain an idea of how any demonstrations by Tibetan monks might be received.
- Yours, etc,
EDWARD O'DONOVAN, St Anne's College, University of Oxford, England.
Madam, - The statement in yesterday's Editorial that China has a critical role to play in this crisis is correct. However, that China has already this year vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called on the junta in Burma to begins moves towards democracy, expectations are extremely fragile. Other relevant points are that the government in China was not chosen by the people in a free election, and that the regime has a history of massacring its own citizens.
Perhaps the government of China now realises that if it wants to be considered a respected member of the family of nations it must act decisively to protect defenceless civilians. China may be the only voice outside Burma that the junta will listen to, because of economic and political ties. This is a moment of truth for China. If it fails to help the people of Burma, revoking plans to hold the 2008 Olympics in China should be considered.
- Yours, etc,
DAN DONOVAN, Shandon Street, Dungarvan, Co Waterford.