From Mr Sheng Li.

Sir, With reference to your editorial “China and India can help Burmese” and Drew Thompson's article “Burma: the world must be ready with a response” (both September 27): the US and other western countries may have little ability to affect the unfolding tragedy in Burma directly, but they have at least some power to do so indirectly by putting economic pressure on China and India, as well as on the Association of South East Asian Nations, which has always been reluctant to speak out against one of its members.