Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. 127 democracy activists have been tortured to death since 1988. 70.000 child soldiers have been forcibly recruited. the practice of rape as a form of repression has been sanctioned by the Burmese military. use of forced labor is widespread. human trafficking is rampant. and the government engages in the production and distribution of opium and methamphetamine. Given this substantial list of abuses. it is no surprise that a recent report by former Czech President Vaclav Havel and retired archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa-"Threat to Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act on Burma -confirms the need for United Nations intervention. It details how the situation in Burma fulfills each of the criteria used for past intervention by the Security Council: overthrow of an elected government. armed conflicts with ethnic minorities. widespread human right violations. outflow of refugees--over 700.000and drug production and trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS. The report should be required reading for all members of the United Nations who doubt whether or not the Security Council should take up Burma immediately. Some may argue that because the sanctions have not achieved their desired goals--the release of Suu Kyi. the restoration of a free and democratic Burmathey should be terminated.
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refugees