1.  a) Define junta.
b) For what reason has Burma's military junta had 100 citizens arrested, imprisoned and tortured? Be specific. (para. 1 & 3)

2.  a) How has UN Secretary General Ban's special envoy to Burma responded to the Burmese government's actions against its citizens? (para. 4 & 7)
b) Do you think that Mr. Gambari's response was appropriate?  Explain your answer.

3.  a) What is the purpose of the UN Security Council? click here
b) Why have human rights groups called on the Security Council to convene? (para. 5 & 6)
c) Why has the Security Council not done so?
(For a list of UN Security Council members, click here.)

4.  Due to a lack of credibility, the UN Commission on Human Rights was replaced by the new Human Rights Council in 2006.  The purpose of the Council is "to serve as the main United Nations forum for dialogue and cooperation on human rights.  Its focus will be to help member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogue, capacity building, and technical assistance.  The Council will also make recommendations to the General Assembly for further development of international law in the field of human rights." The United States did not seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, asserting the body had lost its credibility with repeated attacks on Israel and a failure to confront other rights abusers.
Why do you think that the Human Rights Council has not done anything about the situation in Burma? (Read about the Council at the UN Watchdog group unwatch.org.)

5.  Do you think that the UN Secretary General, the UN Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council are responding appropriately to the recent events in Burma?  Explain your answer.