Washington, Nov 08: Seeking international support for the beleaguered democracy movement in Myanmar, United States has said that restoration of people's rule in the country is Washington's priority objective in South-East Asia. Programmes aimed at organizing the democratic opposition in Myanmar has been difficult in the face of the military junta's "tactics of terror, torture, intimidation and censorship," the state department said in a report mandated by the US Congress.

International pressure and support for the beleaguered democracy movement is essential for promoting change in Myanmar. "It is now more important than ever that we continue to provide sustained, targetted support for those individuals and organizations that are actively promoting democracy."

The US national endowment for democracy is being provided $2.5 million in fiscal 2003 to support Myanmarese and ethnic minority democracy-promoting organizations through a sub-grant programme, it said adding restoration of democracy in Myanmar "is a priority US objective in South-East Asia."
Bureau Report