Asia Pacific News
Bush, eyeing Olympics, makes Asia pro-democracy push
Posted: 07 September 2007 0812 hrs
SYDNEY: US President George W. Bush on Friday urged China to ease
political restrictions ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,
scolded Myanmar, and called for greater democracy throughout
Asia.
"We will encourage China to open up its political system and give
greater voice to its people," he said on the sidelines of a summit
of Asia Pacific leaders in Sydney.
In a wide-ranging speech, Bush defended the unpopular war in Iraq
as key to promoting Middle East reforms and defeating terrorists
and blamed "a handful of countries" he did not name for stalling
global free trade talks.
Bush, whose prepared remarks were released by the White House, said
Russia must "respect the checks and balances that are essential to
democracy" and linked the 2008 Olympics to political reforms in
China.
"Next year, China will host the Olympic Games, and it will be a
moment of pride for the Chinese people. It will also be a moment
when the eyes of the entire world will fall on Beijing," the US
president said.
"We urge China's leaders to use this moment to show confidence by
demonstrating a commitment to greater openness and tolerance," said
Bush, who was here for the 21-nation Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum.
That amounted to a reversal of sorts from the White House's
description of his position in a meeting Thursday with Chinese
President Hu Jintao that he would attend the games "for the sports
and not for any political statements."
The US leader urged the creation of an "Asia Pacific Democracy
Partnership" to help "forces of moderation" in the region, while
taking aim at Myanmar formerly known as Burma as well as North
Korea and Thailand.
"We must work for the day when the people of North Korea enjoy the
same freedoms as the citizens of their democratic neighbours," he
said ahead of separate talks with leaders of South Korea, Russia
and Southeast Asian nations.
"We must press the regime in Burma to
stop arresting, harassing, and assaulting pro-democracy activists
for organizing or participating in peaceful demonstrations," said
Bush.
"The Burmese regime must release these activists immediately, stop
its intimidation of those Burmese citizens who are promoting
democracy and human rights, and release all political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.
Myanmar's military rulers have held Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung
San Suu Kyi under house arrest for 11 of the past 17 years.
Bush said his proposed partnership would mean "free nations will
work together to support democratic values, strengthen democratic
institutions, and assist those who are working to build and sustain
free societies across the Asia Pacific region."
Turning to the so-called Doha Round of free trade talks, Bush
insisted that Washington "has both the will and the flexibility" to
revive the effort and said countries "must focus on what we have to
gain, not what we could lose".
"No single country can make Doha a success, but it is possible for
a handful of countries that are unwilling to make the necessary
contributions to bring Doha to a halt," he said.
Bush, who was to meet later with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
vowed to "advance our shared interests in the world while
encouraging Russia's leaders to respect the checks and balances
that are essential to democracy."
- AFP/so
Does anyone of you (including Gazelle & Mushroom) also
support United States stand in condeming Pro-Democracy basher
regime? Why would you not support? 
