Burmese haze: World's polite outrage fails to penetrate a thugocracy backed by Beijing
Friday, May 22, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
By John Metzler
UNITED NATIONS Ñ Amid the shimmering golden domed temples that have made Burma so renowned, thereÕs a murky political haze which has enveloped this tragic Southeast Asian nation, also known as Myanmar. Ruled by a left-wing military junta for more than a generation, Burma has endured political dictatorship, endemic corruption, the callous response to natural disaster, and a simmering political showdown with imprisoned Nobel Laureate Aung Kang Suu Kyi.
While the global community from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), to the European Union, and the United Nations itself has expressed a polite outrage over the regime in Rangoon, the fact remains that General Than Shwe and his ruling junta could care less. Confident in the knowledge that their political and commercial backer in Beijing will hold firm, the Myanmar military knows that no serious resolutions can get through the UN Security Council. Previous attempts to bring Burma to book before the Council have usually been blocked by communist China and Russia.
Now in the latest standoff, the pro- democracy leader who has spent thirteen of the last nineteen years under hermetic house arrest, Aung Kang Suu Kyi, has gone to trial for having violated the terms of her detention; in this case having met an American well-wisher. While the junta was looking for an excuse to bar her National League for Democracy from participation in sham elections which are planned for 2010, they appear to have found it.
The inconvenient truth remains that she may win, as she did in 1990 before then being blocked from government. Her trial in RangoonÕs infamous Insein prison is yet another vulgar mockery of justice by BurmaÕs leftist leaders.
In 2007 massive Buddhist led demonstrations rocked the ruling regime to the core; the military cracked down brutally. Despite world outrage, on the diplomatic front BurmaÕs generals were shielded in the UN Security Council by BeijingÕs veto. The real risk remains that the percolating political situation will again boil over creating civil unrest which the impoverished country simply cannot afford.
Given the ruling military juntaÕs cozy relationship to the mercantile Marxist Mandarins in Mainland China, Myanmar has seen its sovereignty and resources being subsumed into BeijingÕs sphere. According to the Asian Development Bank, Burma will see a downshift in what had been ten percent annual growth over the past five years. Though the statistics are likely exaggerated, natural gas as well as raw material exports remain key growth sectors. Sadly the economy, for the most part, has been on the socialist road to ruin.
Naturally the political calculus goes well beyond BurmaÕs domestic trials and tribulations. Look at the map; Burma borders China, India and Thailand. Historians recall the fabled Burma Road, the military and humanitarian lifeline to supply Free China during WWII by circumvention the Japanese controlled coast. Today the China link is no less important but in the other direction; despite close commercial and military ties, the PeopleÕs Republic may be looking for a political decompression valve. For the moment Beijing does not wish to ditch the junta, but in the longer term it could be positioning to work with, or control, what many observers see as an inevitable democratic Aung Sang Suu Kyi government in the future.
Then of course thereÕs India. A commentary in the respected Burma exile magazine Irrawaddy.org stated, ÒChina makes no secret of its strong ties with Burma. New Delhi, on the other hand, is a pathetic hypocrite, changing its policy from support for Suu Kyi to one of subservience to BurmaÕs ruling generals. ÉItÕs sad indeed to see one of the worldÕs largest democracies, whose commitment to democracy has just been proved in a general election, kowtowing to the bullies.Ó
Over the years, the Burmese democracy movement has basked in political support from the former Bush Administration, the European governments and many celebrities. Two Nobel laureates, TibetÕs exiled Dali Lama and East TimorÕs Jose Ramos Horta have joined other personalities in urging UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss Burma with the Security Council. Though the Council has held informal sessions, it is highly unlikely the Council could pass a meaningful resolution.
The United States, Britain and France have pressed for a strong human rights agenda in Burma but are fully aware of the internal constraints. LetÕs face it during the massive natural disaster from Cyclone Nargis just last year, the Burmese authorities blocked all forms of medical and humanitarian aid that the world community was literally begging to deliver! The political shock and awe over the criminal callousness of MyanmarÕs ruling military, was a blunt reminder of how business is really done in Burma.