The International Steering Committee (ISC) of the Community of Democracies notes with deep alarm the violent response of the Government of Burma to peaceful and democratic protests. The ISC calls upon the Government of Burma urgently to stop all attacks upon and arrests of protesters and respect the internationally recognized human and political rights of Burma citizens and to release Aung San Suu Kyi as well as all other political prisoners immediately.

The ISC also calls upon the United Nations to take emergency action on the crisis in Burma through all of its principal organs in order to persuade the Government of Burma to take the actions demanded above. The ISC applauds the Security Council’s current attention to the crisis in Burma and urges the Security Council to adopt and enforce a strong resolution. In addition, the Human Rights Council should be convened in a special session to address Burma.

The International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies is a board of civil society organizations from around the world which support democracy and human rights.