NEWS (9-10-2007)

Diplomat resigns over Burma monks
BBC

A Burmese diplomat has told the BBC how "appalling" treatment of Buddhist monks during last month's protests forced him to resign from the military regime.
Ye Min Tun, a foreign ministry official for 10 years, said Burma's generals had ignored the people's desire for them to negotiate with the opposition.
At least 10 people died and thousands were arrested when troops used force to end peaceful anti-government marches.
Burma's leaders have now appointed a go-between for opposition talks.
State media reported on Monday that an official had been charged with liaising with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Correspondents say the move, recommended by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari when he visited the country last week, seems to be a concession to international pressure.
Countries including the US, UK and France are campaigning for sanctions against the regime, but Burma's neighbours oppose such action.
On Tuesday, China's foreign ministry reiterated its position, saying "sanctions or pressure will not help to solve the issue".
'Decisive factor'
The government's crackdown has seen curfews imposed in Burma's main cities, and frequent night-time raids on monasteries and private homes.
Ye Min Tun, who describes himself as a "good Buddhist", sent a letter of resignation to the Burmese embassy in London.
In an interview with the BBC, he described the crackdown on the September protesters as "horrible".
"I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life. The government is arresting and beating the peaceful Buddhist monks."
He said he had hoped that the protests would force the generals to come to an agreement with the opposition.
"This revolution, this incident seemed to be the decisive factor that could persuade the government to go to the negotiation table.
"But actually the government ignored the reality," he said.

Arrests in Singapore for Burma protest
By John Burton in Singapore

A Singapore opposition leader and three of his party members were arrested yesterday for protesting against the city-state's ties with Burma after a week of unprecedented demonstrations outside the Burmese embassy.
Chee Soon Juan, head of the Singapore Democratic party, had sought to deliver a petition to the office of Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister, asking the government to disclose its dealings with Burma's military leadership.
Singapore's relations with Burma have come under scrutiny since it is current chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, which is trying to take a leading role in the international response to Burma's recent violent crackdown on the democracy movement.
Although Singapore has condemned Burma's leaders, it has been criticised by human rights group for being Burma's third largest trading partner after China and Thailand.
Singapore has also allowed Than Shwe, the Burmese leader, and Soe Win, the prime minister, to receive medical treatment there.
Suggestions that Singapore should deny entry to Burma's leaders for medical treatment would amount to "petty indignities" and would be inhumane, Mr Lee told CNN at the weekend.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the central bank, has said that allegations that Burma's leaders are using the city-state as a financial haven to hide money are "completely baseless".
Police decided not to disperse the illegal public protest in spite of laws that normally ban outside political gatherings of five persons or more due to apparent political sensitivity over the issue.