By Frank Ching
The streets of Yangon are quiet again, with Myanmar's junta having succeeded in suppressing mass protests against military rule through a crackdown that included the shooting of demonstrators, raids on monasteries and large-scale arrests and cutting off the country from the Internet.
The special emissary of the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ibrahim Gambari, was able to meet Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council, as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights Council, meeting in Geneva, adopted a resolution deploring beatings, killings and arbitrary detentions and called for the junta to allow an investigator into the country.
There is a danger that not much will follow from these developments. For one thing, China and Russia still oppose sanctions preferred by the United States and European countries.
Moreover, despite the Human Rights Council resolution, Myanmar refuses to allow a special rapporteur to visit and there isn't much the council can do about it.
But while Western countries may be stymied Asian countries can actually take action if they want to. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has already issued a strong statement condemning the violence in Myanmar.
It should now follow up by actively considering either the expulsion or suspension of Myanmar at its summit scheduled for next month in Singapore.
But many Asian countries still appear reluctant to act. At the Human Rights Council session, the Indian delegated even regretted the fact that the council had not taken a ``non-condemnatory'' approach.
China's ambassador to the United Nations, Wang Guangya, while acknowledging that there are serious problems in Myanmar that need to be fixed, insisted that what was important is the ``right approach.''
``Pressure will not help address the problem but might lead to mistrust and confrontation, and even cut off the current channel of dialogue and cooperation between Myanmar and the United Nations,'' he said after Gambari briefed the council on his visit. ``The Security Council should adopt a prudent and responsible approach while handling the issue of Myanmar.''
However, this is not necessarily China's last word on the subject. There is still room for China and other members of the international community to try to nudge Myanmar into adopting more civilized forms of behavior towards its own people.
Since a binding resolution appears out of the question, the United States, Britain and France are working on a draft statement which, while not legally binding, would carry the moral authority of the Security Council.
If this is approved by all 15 members of the council, including China, it could still send a powerful message to Myanmar's generals.
For its part, Myanmar appears to be serious about a meeting with the opposition leader, who is under house arrest. The government has appointed a senior official to act as a liaison official for any contacts with her, a move suggested by Gambari.
This means that there is a chance for the United Nations to urge the junta to open a dialogue with the opposition for the purpose of national reconciliation, a goal supported by China.
In fact, since China acknowledges that there are serious problems in Myanmar, it may be willing to sign on to a statement _ though not a binding resolution _ that admonishes Myanmar to foster a dialogue as the first move toward genuine democratization.
Both dialogue and democratization are objectives that are supported by China.
It would help if Indonesia, the only ASEAN country on the Security Council, could also play a leadership role in the drafting of such a statement. Indonesia had abstained in January when the Security Council considered a resolution on Myanmar, but now that ASEAN itself has taken a position, it should be easier for Jakarta to act.
Even while putting some pressure on Myanmar, China still tries to show that it is not being judgmental. In fact, it goes so far as to treat the repressive government and the victims of repression with an even hand.
Li Baodong, China's representative to the U.N. office in Geneva, urged ``all parties to use restraint'' at the Human Rights Council meeting.
Whatever China says in public, it should realize that this is a time for it to be pushing for progress in Myanmar behind the scenes. This is not a time for restraint.
The status quo is clearly untenable. China and other Asian countries should show the world that they stand on the side of justice and humanity, not side by side with the junta.
Frank Ching is a journalist and commentator in Hong Kong.