In a departure from its usual neutrality, the  today issued a statement condemning Myanmar's military for human rights abuses. The  , Switzerland-based International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, said the Myanmar junta is systematically causing thousands of people to suffer, especially along the border with Thailand, where government soldiers raid villages, destroy food supplies, force people from their homes and commit acts of violence, including murder and child abuse. Detainees, the ICRC said, were being forced to work on government projects or act as porters for the military. Aung San Suu Kyi The statement comes amidst other developments in Myanmar, where 51 detainees who were arrested in a crackdown on democracy demonstrations last month were released on Wednesday. In  yesterday, officials held talks with representatives of Myanmar's military regime, with the U.S. issuing a "very pointed and very direct" demand that the release detained democracy leader  . In  , U.S. State Department spokesman said the U.S. delegation demanded the release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees, but received no positive response from the Myanmar officials. "I don't think we saw anything coming out of them that will indicate, unfortunately, that they have changed their basic opinions," Casey was quoted as saying by AFP. "We certainly did not hear that they were planning on releasing Aung San Suu Kyi or other political prisoners," he continued.
In a departure from its usual neutrality, the International Committee of the Red Cross today issued a statement condemning Myanmar's military for human rights abuses. The Geneva , Switzerland-based International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, said the Myanmar junta is systematically causing thousands of people to suffer, especially along the border with Thailand, where government soldiers raid villages, destroy food supplies, force people from their homes and commit acts of violence, including murder and child abuse. Detainees, the ICRC said, were being forced to work on government projects or act as porters for the military. The statement comes amidst other developments in Myanmar, where 51 detainees who were arrested in a crackdown on democracy demonstrations last month were released on Wednesday. In Beijing yesterday, officials held talks with representatives of Myanmar's military regime, with the U.S. issuing a "very pointed and very direct" demand that the release detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi . In Washington , U.S. State Department spokesman said the U.S. delegation demanded the release of Suu Kyi and other political detainees, but received no positive response from the Myanmar officials. "I don't think we saw anything coming out of them that will indicate, unfortunately, that they have changed their basic opinions," Casey was quoted as saying by AFP. "We certainly did not hear that they were planning on releasing Aung San Suu Kyi or other political prisoners," he continued.
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International Committee of the Red Cross
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Geneva
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Aung San Suu Kyi
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Beijing
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Aung San Suu Kyi
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Washington