9 Dead As Soldiers Fire On Myanmar Protest

Troops Attack Anti-Junta Demonstrators; U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Gov't Figures

(CBS/AP)  At least nine people, including a Japanese video journalist, were killed and 11 injured Thursday as soldiers in Myanmar opened fire upon tens of thousands of anti-government protesters who defied a government crackdown, the government said.

Ye Htut, a government spokesman, said riot police clashed with anti-government protesters in the country's largest city Yangon, killing nine and injuring 11 people. Thirty-one government troops were also injured, he said.

Witnesses and a Western diplomat told The Associated Press that dozens of people were arrested and severely beaten after soldiers fired into a crowd in Yangon. Troops in at least four locations fired into the crowds after several thousand protesters ignored an order from security forces to disband, witnesses and diplomats said.

Mark Canning, the British Ambassador to Myanmar, spoke to CBS News correspondent Barry Peterson about what he witnessed.

"There were a number of violent incidents. There was a shooting outside one of the main hotels," Canning said. "We understand from one of our staff who was in the hotel at the time that a number of people were hit."

Thursday President Bush said America stood in solidarity with the people of Myanmar who are protesting against that nation's military government, and called on countries with influence on the ruling junta to demand the army end violence against protestors.

"Every civilized nation has a responsibility to stand up for people suffering under a brutal military regime like the one that has ruled Burma for too long," Mr. Bush said in a statement read by White House spokesperson Dana Perino.

"I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people," Mr. Bush said. [It is U.S. policy to refer to the country by its original name of Burma, rather than the name adopted by the current regime.]

The statement comes as the administration announces it is imposing economic sanctions against 14 senior officials of Myanmar's government, including the junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, and the No. 2 man, Deputy Senior Gen. Maung Aye. The action freezes any assets the 14 have in U.S. banks or other financial institutions under U.S. jurisdiction, and also prohibits any U.S. citizens from doing business with them.

The reactions came on a bloody day in Yangon, where an estimated 70,000 anti-government demonstrators had gathered Thursday. Thousands of protesters ran through the streets amidst gunfire from government troops, bloody sandals left in their wake.

Protesters had shouted at the soldiers, angry about early morning raids by security forces on Buddhist monasteries during which soldiers reportedly beat up and arrested more than 100 monks. "Give us freedom," they shouted.

Southeast Asian nations on Thursday expressed "revulsion" to Myanmar's foreign minister at the violent repression of demonstrations and strongly urged the military government "to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution."

A statement issued after a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said the ministers "were appalled to receive reports of automatic weapons being used and demanded that the Myanmar government immediately desist from the use of violence against demonstrators."

The meeting of the eight-nation group, known as ASEAN, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial meeting, took place as the U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, was flying to Bangkok at Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's request to try to promote a political solution and reconciliation efforts.

Gambari took off for Bangkok not knowing whether Myanmar's government would grant him a visa. U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe announced early Thursday afternoon that Ban had been informed by Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win that Gambari "will be welcomed by the Myanmar government."

The ASEAN foreign ministers said Myanmar's minister assured them Gambari would be issued a visa and they urged Myanmar's government "to grant him full access to all parties ... as they had done in the past." Gambari has held two meetings with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

CBS News White House corresponddent Mark Knoller reports that today President Bush met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, during which he thanked Minister Yang for China's assistance in facilitating the U.N.'s special envoy's visit to Burma, and asked that China use its influence in the region to help bring a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma.

China, which has come under increasing pressure to use its regional influence on Myanmar's ruling junta, issued an evenhanded plea for calm on Thursday after refusing to condemn the military-run government at the United Nations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a media briefing in Beijing on Thursday that "China hopes that all parties in Myanmar exercise restraint and properly handle the current issue so as to ensure the situation there does not escalate and get complicated."

Jiang Yu said foreign reports risked "exaggerating and hyping up" the situation.

The crackdown puts China in a bind. Its communist government has developed close diplomatic ties with junta leaders and is a major investor in Myanmar. But with the Beijing Olympics less than a year away, China is eager to fend off criticism that it shelters unpopular or abusive regimes.

"I perceive a little movement coming from the Chinese government and the Chinese people," Kouchner said. "But they are certainly, apart from the other ASEAN nations, they are really those who can do something to influence the behavior of the Myanmar government."

"We have a slow process facing an emergency situation," he said.

Earlier Thursday, a monk at Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery pointed to bloodstains on the concrete floor and said a number of monks were beaten and at least 100 of its 150 monks taken away in vehicles. Shots were fired in the air and tear gas was used against a crowd of about 1,500 supporters of the monks during the chaotic raid, he said.

"Soldiers slammed the monastery gate with the car, breaking the lock and forcing it into the monastery," said the monk, who did not give his name for fear of reprisals. "They smashed the doors down, broke windows and furniture. When monks resisted, they shot at the monks and used tear gas and beat up the monks and dragged them into trucks."

Empty bullet shells, broken doors, furniture and glass peppered the bloodstained, concrete floor of the monastery.

A female lay disciple said a number of monks also were arrested at the Moe Gaung monastery, which was being guarded by soldiers. Both monasteries are located in Yangon's northern suburbs.

Kenji Nagai, 50, a journalist covering the protests in Yangon for Japanese video news agency APF News, was confirmed as one of the dead after his father and company representative identified him in a photo taken at the scene of his death by a photographer who was also covering the protests.

Japan's new foreign minister said Thursday that his country holds Myanmar accountable for the death of Japanese journalist killed during violent protests in the military-led country.

After a private meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told reporters at the State Department that his ministry had called Myanmar's Embassy in Tokyo to raise the issue.

Japan holds Myanmar "strictly" accountable for the journalist's death, Komura said.

[vet_sk]

Sorry but your comment: "These soldiers are not human, and their souls will not forever relieved from their sins" missed the point that they are. It is the societies that they belong to give them the authority and odacity to kill.

And Souls? There are no souls - just amino acids; we set our own destiny...and in this case lack of our country''s destiny. We''re in a bad state of affairs a getting worse everyday.

[lastdance2]

"I call on those who embrace the values of human rights and freedom to
support the legitimate demands of the Burmese people," Mr. Bush said.

Since when - Does any one (1) human life - Have more Significance -
Than any other human Life ? ? ?

More American Children have been Killed Recently - Killed by Defective and Flawd
Children''s toys and Child Merchandise imported from China.
Than nine (9) Buddhist Monks in Myanmar

Where do you People get off - by signing a Petition All the while Ignoring the
Deaths of these Children - The Plight and the Pain of these Parents

Where are the Petitions - On behalf of these - Dead American Children

Bush - Should look to his own Family - Before he shoots his Mouth off
The Uncle of Pres. Bush - Prescott Bush : Chairman, U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce;

Prescott Bush - Knowing The Ratifications - of Poisoned Food - Lead Poisoning -
Defective and Faulty Child Merchandise - Prescott Bush Continues - To Allow those imports.

Pres. Bush - Cut funding to the Port Authority - Now there is only one (1) Inspector
at each Port of Entry. - To Inspect shipments from China

Simply Put - Its a Family Affair - No Criminal Complaints - No Sanctions -
on behalf of - His Uncle - Prescott Bush

Lastdance

[khinnyo-2009]

What A Shame how can we stand this, These soldiers are not human, and their souls will not forever relieved from their sins.We need to break the cycle of killing every twenty years. This is our responsibility to break this cycle.

[realpatriot1]

khin800,
I just signed the petition and e-mailed the link to several friends.

The world is watching Burma and our hearts are with you in your struggle. We pray that people power will triumph as it did against the odds in the Phillippines,eastern Europe, South Africa and elswhere. Keep the faith!

[khin8oo]

PLEASE HELP OUR INNOCENT PEOPLE AND OUR MONKS!!! PETITION U.N. AND URGE THEM TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!!! ( NOT JUST TALKS!!!) MANY MORE MONKS AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE!!! MANY MORE WILL BE TORTURED!!!PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY!!! NO RICE TO COOK AT HOME!!! NO FOOD TO EAT!!!PLEASE HELP!!!
http://www.petitiononline.com/9848/petition.html

[hschar]

On the Nightly News tonight your commentator compared the Burmese peoples'' courageous resistance to the brutal military to the American Revolution. That''s outrageous. Our forefathers engaged in an armed insurecction against an occupying power, often from ambush. Burma''s insurrection is unarmed. They confront well-armed soldiers with bare hands. Think Mahatma Ghandi

[sftodd]

Just think, people, one more Republican appointment to the Supreme Court and we can have the same thing here! Would be great to watch our military gun down members of MoveOn! Vote republican!!!

[ibsurfin]

http://beta.razoo.com/groups/the_road_to_burma

[ibsurfin]

We are tired of sitting around, we are doing something about it. If you want to help make sure we never see this headline again check out what we are doing: http://beta.razoo.com/groups/the_road_to_burma
Please take the time to sign up and lets stop pointing fingers and do something for a change.

[mitch0927]

first and foremost, he''s a politician. They''ll say what ever you want to hear, just to get a vote. Just like all the presidents, they say one thing and once they''re in office, they do another........