The Burmese government is saying it detained nearly 3,000 people during the protests. Around 500 are probably still in custody. China, Burma’s most prominent supporter, says it agrees with UN envoy Gambari’s mission, which is to get the southeast Asian nations (and probably India, if China’s for it) to call Myanmar to account. Also Japan, which gave Myanmar 26.1 million dollars or so last year, is withholding that money now. (By comparison, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees earned about 22 million dollars last year.)
In Washington, DC yesterday, the Dalai Lama voiced his support for the Burmese monks. He also said his successor might be chosen by an unorthodox method. This comes as no surprise in the face of China’s interest in controlling this process.
The DL met with President Bush in the residential section of the White House, rather than the Oval Office, in a White House attempt to appease the dragon.
– Philip Ryan, Web Editor