(AP) WASHINGTON: U.S. President George W. Bush and Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Wednesday urged Myanmar's ruling military junta on Wednesday to begin talks with opposition forces.
Bush said he and Goh talked about how Myanmar's military "shouldn't fear the voices of people. And yet they do. I'm disappointed with the progress made to date there and would urge the military leadership there to open up and respond to the will of the people."
Myanmar's junta has received worldwide criticism since soldiers killed and arrested protesters, including Buddhist monks, last year. Rights groups have reported continued arrests and abuse, despite claims by the junta that the crackdown has stopped. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962.
Goh said, "The army has to be part of the solution. Without the army playing a part in solving problems in Myanmar, there will be no solution."
Bush said he and Goh also discussed a recent Chinese crackdown on anti-government protesters in Tibet. He said that "it would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would begin a dialogue with the representatives of the Dalai Lama," Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader.
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Goh added that China talking with the Dalai Lama is "the only way for them to contain this problem."
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