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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 14, 2007 - 29 Burma has been forsaken by United Nations By Kristy Cameron GRADE 12, T. A. BLAKELOCK here can I find a cute dress for semi-formal? When am I going to find time to finish that huge essay? Does my new haircut look okay? These are typical thoughts of an Oakville teenager. While we obsess over trivial matters, innocent monks are being murdered and imprisoned in Myanmar. The history of conflict in Burma is filled with injustice, and yet the United Nations has allowed the blatant violation of human rights to continue. Burma, currently known as Myanmar, has been desperate to adopt a democratic government since the late 1980s. Military Generals ruled without resistance until 1990, when Mrs. Aung Suu Kyi, leader of the national league for Democracy, won the majority of seats in the W country's election. She was promptly placed under house arrest by the Burmese military coalition and has been a prisoner in her own house for 12 of the past 18 years. In the past few months, Buddhist monks have come to the defence of Aung Suu Kyi, leading peaceful protests to her home. In addition, the monks are demanding a less-violent government and a better economy, including lower fuel prices. What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly erupted into violent conflict. A protest in Rangoon, a popular tourist destination, escalated and 10 activists died. In addition, more than 4,000 protesters have been imprisoned. While protests have been put on hold, it is time to assess the damage and ask where the UN stands on the issue of democracy in Myanmar. It is also vital to ask where Canada stands. One would assume that an organization founded on principles dedicated to human rights would rush to the aid of a rightfully-elected government. In Canada's case, a Canadian, John Peters Humphrey, wrote the UN Charter of Human Rights, so I think that we have a special obligation. Unfortunately, the UN is also in desperate need of reform. Tainted by super powers that control the Security Council, the UN is no longer an advocate of justice. On too many occasions, permanent members of the council have been more concerned about their own foreign interests to the detriment of those nations in need. Russia and China have often used their veto power to prevent any intervention by the UN, despite the obvious human rights violations. It is absolutely pathetic that a powerful organization like the UN is unable to challenge the Burmese junta. Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy, was sent on Sept. 25 to meet with junior government officials and Aung San Suu Kyi in an attempt to resolve this desperate situation. Months later, without any reports from Gambari, it seems as if the UN has simply dismissed the issue. 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