Laura Bush Visits Refugees from Myanmar

On her way to the Olympics in Beijing, US First Lady Laura Bush, a vocal critic of Myanmar’s junta, toured a refugee camp last Thursday and called on the military regime to open dialogue with the pro-democracy opposition. AFP Reports:

Highlighting abuses in military-run Myanmar has been the chief cause of the first lady, and with her daughter Barbara she made her way through a muddy settlement which is home to tens of thousands who fled the junta’s repression.

She thanked the Thai government for allowing the nine camps housing more than 120,000 refugees that string the border with Myanmar.

“If we could see a change in the Burmese government… people could move home in safety, that would be the best result,” the first lady told camp leaders, referring to Myanmar by its previous name.

“The best solution would be if General Than Shwe’s regime would start real dialogue,” she said after being greeted by refugees performing song and dance in traditional dress.

About 35,000 refugees huddle in Mae La camp at the foot of forested mountains, which many risked their lives to cross in their desperation to flee military crackdowns on ethnic rebel armies in their homeland. Click here for the rest of the story.

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