BANGKOK, Thailand - A day of global protests against Myanmar's junta began Wednesday in Bangkok as democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi marked a cumulative 12 years in detention.
The protests, which were also planned for London, Paris, Rome, New York, Toronto and other cities, came as diplomatic efforts accelerated to force Myanmar's junta to make accommodations with the opposition after the army crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in the country last month.
The United Nations announced Tuesday that Myanmar's military rulers have agreed to allow UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to return earlier than previously announced for a trip the UN hopes will "kick-start" talks between the government and the opposition.
The UN announcement that the government was willing to move up Gambari's return to early November instead of mid-November came a day after the world body announced the junta had agreed to a visit by UN human rights investigator Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who had been barred from Myanmar since 2003.
Myanmar's government has been strongly criticized for sending troops to quash peaceful protests in late September. The military junta said 10 people were killed, but diplomats and dissidents say the death toll is likely much higher. Thousands were arrested, and the hunt for participants is reportedly continuing.
Gambari met earlier this month with junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe. He also met twice with Suu Kyi. But his efforts have so far failed to bring about a dialogue between the two sides.
Gambari is now on a tour of Asia meant to shore up support for his mission.
At the protest in Bangkok, about 40 people stood outside the Chinese Embassy dressed in white clothes resembling uniforms of political prisoners and wearing Suu Kyi masks. Their hands were shackled and linked in chains.
Myanmar's military has ruled the country since 1962. The current junta took power in 1988 after crushing the democracy movement led by Suu Kyi. In 1990, it refused to hand over power when Suu Kyi's party won a landslide election victory.
