Although the Article by Nico Hines is well written, most of the commentry below is uninformed.
The United Nations have been proven to be a toothless organisation in this case, mainly because the good friends of the Burmese military junta, the Chinese and the Russians on the Security Council have consistently opposed any action against them. The regime would have collapsed long ago were it not for their consistent support. The Americans merely pay most of the costs of running the UN.

Mark Lyndon, London, UK

So, it would be ok to send troops to Burma, but it was wrong to do so in Iraq??? We should intervene in Darfur, but not Afghanistan?

This is nothing but moral posturing.

Dan , london, uk

Does Bush even know where Burma is?

Gareth Dowling, Belfast,

I'd like to say thank you to The Times for keeping this topic on its headline. People who take democracy for granted should not tolerate another Tiananmen to unfold. If our so called democratic governments keep egnoring the voice of Burmese people and keep treating the junta as a regitimate government, they are false. We should reject them as well or else we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Hiss, Taipei, Taiwan

Aung San Suu Kyi is NOT the "opposition" leader. She is the legitimate leader of the country, and was illegally imprisoned by the military.

I hope that the people of Burma will finally succeed in bringing to justice, the criminal traitors who currently hold power over them.

-jcr

John C. Randolph, Cupertino, California, USA

Myanmar is not Islamic so America and the Western countries can only impose sanction. That's about all they will do. No oil, not Christian, not Islamic; y-e-a-h-h "sanction" is just about right. Long Live the Junta!!!

C H Lin, Singapore,

It may be a few days before the military are ordered to break up the demonstrations.As the commander of the Police force is an Army General, the riot police will be backed by special forces from tribes other than Burmese, eager to "get rid " of as many Burmese as possible.When this kind of blood -letting commences, discipline ,even military discipline is difficult to maintain, hence, large casualties inevitabl.Gen, Than Shwe is not a man influenced by world opinion or cares about "foreign" commentators and he will be watching this with interest.There are still some Generals who are sensitive to the suffering of the people and are fully aware of the devastation that their regime has brought on this once-rich nation.A whole generation of people who have never lived without fear of the military uniform in one form or another.You can not fight the Burmese military and win with out an outbreak of civil war,, history has taught us that it will take an outside power to mediate and compromise.

miguel Sanchez, London, Uk

Of course, peacefu, religious, passive, Monks who clearly are unarmed and will remain so, making a protest against poverty, injustice and dictatorship, no doubt are a huge threat to be tackled with by riot police!! I've never heard anything so ridiculous!!
The government of Burma might want to ask themselves the question "why is this happening? What are we doing or not doing that would cause this?" But will they?

Tarni, London, UK

So surreal, as the Burmese military dictatorship is now preparing to demonstrate to the whole world they have an identical mindset to Pol Pot’s, Khmer Rouge, by acting as butchers in the slaughter of its own country’s Priests and Nun’s, while the so-called leaders of the world “do nothing” and just watch as passive spectators!

Frank, Manchester, UK

hi,
weird, everybody here seems to forget (or not knowing) that there might be no oil, but there is gas...
ask Total company...
>>>and just take a closer look here:
http://www.birmanie.net/birma/ab012.html
and from here, have access to all information..........................
because, obviously, seems that everyone need to be informed in a better way...
thx

LoLtheus, Paris, France

It´s time the world intervened to crush this vile dictatorship.
Just because there is no oil involved will be a poor excuse.
The monks and the people of Burma should be given all available means to overthow these illegitimate rulers.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the elected leader.

James Currie, Andalucia, Spain

To Patrick from Holland,

"Unless oil supply , strategic relevance or NATO security is threatened , then don't expect anyone to do anything until after the spilt blood has dried."

Were any of these factors present in Kosovo or Bosnia? How about Somalia (which ended in failure, but not for lack of effort)?

Willy, Cleveland, USA/ USA

According to M Dunham and the Dalai Lama in "Buddha's Warriors," the CIA covertly assisted Tibet militarily when Mao invaded in 1950. US foreign policy isn't always bragging material, but neither is it always about $. It too often is but not always, so give us a little credit Mr. Foster. The US has probably spent more on internat'l charity and military assistance in gov't and individual donations than the rest of the world combined and is all too often the only one left holding the bag when everyone else bails or bites the hand feeding them. Does Mogadishu ring a bell? While in the USAF, my brother helped evacuate the locals in the Philipines when Pinatubo erupted at the risk of his own health/safety, among many other things. It's too easy to complain about the ineptitude of politicians while actually doing a whole lot of nothing. DO something, even if it's only writing a check or uttering a prayer. My monthly charitable $ goes to a child warrior in a country that HATES the US.

Tiffany, St. Louis,

WE, as fellow citizens of the World, have stood by long enough and watched the outrage, and have done nothing. The inhumanity to it's people and the lack of respect to the country itself by it's own cruel government need to come to a screaching halt. Burma has suffered enough. We, as fellow citizens of the World, should answer their plead for freedom.

Bruce, Duarte, CA, USA

As the vast majority of Brits have concluded that military intervention against the leaders of sovereign states is illegal at best, and a crime against humanity at worst, there will be little public support for any in the case of Burma.

What a shame as the signs of violent oppression draw ominously close...

william, London,

I can only pray for democracy in Burma.
I was in Berlin the day when the Wall fell.
Today Burma = DDR ; China = Soviet Union.
Let us hope the People will win as they did in Germany!
(Not least by support from America - Bush sr.)

gosta jonsell, stockholm, sweden

I think that the strike will eventually result in a bloody disaster if the people do not start to step back and stop pushing so hard on the government.

Andrew, Singapore, singapore,

Whilst I agree with virtually everything everyone above is saying, it should be noted that Thailand is run by a military junta who will remain in power until at least December. Burma is not a major oil producer and neither is Zimbabwe, nor was Rwanda or Sierra Leone. Unless oil supply , strategic relevance or NATO security is threatened , then don't expect anyone to do anything until after the spilt blood has dried.

Patrick, The Hague, Holland

The United Nations have been proven to be a toothless organisation. It's no coincidence that the HQ is in New York. Where the US Government can pull its strings. Now is the time that the leading nations of the world 'unite' and quickly snub out this bullying dictatorship.

I like everyone, who live in a democratic country, have been following the heartwrenching news reports over the last 20 years. We simply cannot believe that this dictatorship along with the one in Zimbabwe has been allowed to exist. To have a free hand in demolishing the structure and welfare of it own proud people.

It is an absolute disgrace of all the world political and religious leaders to sit by and allow this situation to carry on. With only a few sharp diplomatic words of protest every so often. When will politicians realise, that dictators throughout history have never listened to democratic reason. The Military leaders of both Burma and Zimbabwe will only listen to military force.

mike Lawson-Foster, Reading, UK

I dearly hope that this acts as a catalyst that draws draws the worlds attention, and leads to the freedom of the Burmese people. Buddha is smiling on these people, they deserve the worlds support.

Chris McKoy, Bangkok, Thailand

Please, I hereby appeal Int’l community, we need your support. We can’t miss the chance. We have been oppressed and tortured for too many years. Enough is enough.
So, don’t wait and see. Let them (the junta and its supporters) know that the whole world is watching them and they will definitely have to face negative consequences.
Thank you.
Tee

Tee, minneapolis, USA