Sydney: October 6, 2007 - A global day of demonstrations against Myanmar's violent suppression of pro-democracy protests has miserably failed to spark in Asia, not even 100 people gathered in Bangkok, though there was better figure in Australia, where about 250 people assembled to protest, still not impressive gathering.

Sydney rally organizer Maung Maung Than, 40, called for pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners to be set free. The call went as under:

"We are united in opposition to the military dictatorship in Burma. It's time for the regime to start reconciliation." 

Than said the protests were also aimed at keeping up the pressure on the international community to act: "The international response is just getting started, it must get a lot stronger."

One banner at the protest called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, reflecting a view that regional powerhouse China should be exerting more pressure on the junta.

Actually a U.N. draft proposal on Myanmar released on Friday condemning   subjugation by the junta and demanding to free political detainees and to begin dialogue with the opposition was the main reason that the protestors failed to gather a strong crown anywhere. (IR Summary).

A planned protest in Tokyo was cancelled, with organizers saying they were satisfied with a U.N. draft proposal on Myanmar released on Friday which condemned repression by the junta and demanded it free political detainees and begin dialogue with the opposition.

In Bangkok, about 100 activists shouted anti-junta slogans and waved placards saying "No More Bloodshed" and "Stop Destroying Freedom" as they marched through the Thai capital, as per Reuters.

Boonthan Verawongse of the rights group Amnesty International called on the Thai government to put pressure on Myanmar's generals.
"Without intervention by the Thai government and many Asian countries, the Burmese junta will still be very strong and oppress people in the country," he said.