China, Russia Veto Myanmar Resolution

An ethnic Karen soldier pauses on his patrol in this May 9, 2006 file photo, in the village of Ei Htu Hta, Myanmar, near the Salween river along the Myanmar-Thai border. The United States has introduced a U.N. resolution calling the deteriorating situation in Myanmar a serious risk to regional peace and urging the country's military government to release all political prisoners. (AP Photo/David Longstreath, File) (David Longstreath - AP)

China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said he voted against the resolution for the same reason. The veto was only China's fourth, and Wang expressed regret, saying it was clear Myanmar was not moving quickly enough to promote stability.

He urged the military regime to move toward "inclusive democracy" and "speed up the process of dialogue and reform."

Though he abstained, Indonesia's ambassador, Rezlan Jenie, was highly critical of Myanmar, a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN has tried to restore democracy in Myanmar, he said, but there has been no progress on the ground.

"Myanmar must respond to the imperative of restoring democracy and improving human rights," Jenie said. "We will do everything in our power ... to bring about positive change in Myanmar."

Wolff said the U.S. aim was to put the situation in Myanmar in the global spotlight and to support its people.

He accused Myanmar's military regime of carrying out arbitrary arrests, torture, rapes and executions, of waging war on minorities and building news cities while refugees flee the country, "narcotics and human trafficking grow, and communicable diseases remain untreated."

The United States views these actions as "contemporary threats that the council and the international community needs to address before they become imminent ... threats to international peace and security," he said.

Along with the U.S., Britain, France, Slovakia, Peru, Ghana, Belgium, Italy and Panama all supported the resolution.

Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, who co-sponsored the resolution, said his government wants to see a strengthened relationship between the United Nations and Myanmar to reduce poverty and promote development, and to establish democratic institutions, the rule of law and respect for human rights.