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Burma 'closes' Red Cross offices Burma 'closes' Red Cross offices
(about 1 hour later)
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has been ordered by the Burmese government to close its offices in the country. The Red Cross says it has been ordered by the Burmese government to close its offices in the country, effectively ending its humanitarian work there.
In a statement from its headquarters in Geneva, the Red Cross said it deplored the decision, which effectively ends its humanitarian operation in Burma. Five field offices dealing with victims of conflict in Burma's border areas now face closure, the organisation said.
Humanitarian work for some of Burma's most vulnerable people was now in jeopardy, the statement said. The Red Cross also says it will remain barred from visiting jails, said to include some 1,000 political prisoners.
Humanitarian work for some of Burma's most vulnerable people was now in jeopardy, the organisation said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it "utterly deplores" the Burmese military government's decision.
Pierre Krahenbul, the ICRC's director of operations, said the organisation's work "since 1999 has had a tangible impact on people's living and security conditions".
"The ICRC is seriously worried that those most in need today will bear the brunt of the current standoff," he said.
Burma's repressive government has faced mounting international criticism of its human rights record and failure to introduce democracy.
Aid workers complain that government suspicions have led to lengthy delays in getting approval to travel outside the capital, and obtain visas for foreign staff.
Dialogue
The UN estimates that there are over 1,000 political prisoners in Burma, among them the leader of the democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for over a decade.
Since December 2005, Burma's government has refused to allow Red Cross prison visits.
According to the ICRC, the government has now ruled out any resumption of these visits.
The government's additional demand that the ICRC close its five offices means the organisation's work in Burma is now limited to a few rehabilitation projects for amputees.
The offices were serving thousands of people affected by conflict in Myanmar's border regions.
The ICRC says it has worked to build constructive dialogue with Burma.The ICRC says it has worked to build constructive dialogue with Burma.
But the attempts - aimed at allowing the ICRC to carry out its humanitarian work in the country - have ended in deadlock.But the attempts - aimed at allowing the ICRC to carry out its humanitarian work in the country - have ended in deadlock.
'Drastic' The organisation said it is "determined to re-engage the government in dialogue" to restore its operations in the country.
Since December 2005 Burma's government has refused to allow Red Cross prison visits. Now it has ordered the closure of five ICRC field offices.
The Red Cross statement described these restrictions as drastic.
It said it utterly deplored the Burmese government's decision because it would make it impossible to carry out assistance and protection work for those most in need.
In effect the closure of the offices means the organisation's work in Burma is now limited to a few rehabilitation projects for amputees.
The Red Cross said it was seriously worried that civilians living in sensitive border areas and political prisoners would suffer.
The United Nations estimates that there are over 1,000 political prisoners in Burma, among them the leader of the democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for over a decade.