Burma must not be forgotten

(December 15, 2007/ Manila, Philippines) Just two months ago, the world was shocked and outraged by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations that took place in Burma. The images may have vanished from our screens. But we cannot and will not forget the plight of the Burmese people.

A country which has the natural resources to be an economic powerhouse is instead the sick man of Southeast Asia. As the rest of the region advances into the digital age, Burma is in danger of retreating to the dark ages. Cut off from the outside world and denied access not only to democracy and respect for human rights, but also to proper education and basic economic rights, its society is in a state of disarray. The huge demonstrations and protests over recent months have shown that the Burmese people have been pushed beyond breaking point by the regime.

Last week a new generation of leaders gathered in Singapore to mark an important milestone: 40 years of ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]. We welcomed that celebration: ASEAN today represents a proud and prosperous region standing at the heart of the global economy, its voice heard and respected across the world. ASEAN’s leaders faced the twin challenges of enshrining a charter that commits them to respect democratic and human rights, while dealing with the ongoing crisis in Burma. The Burmese government was sent a clear message: there is no going back. We agree.

It is obvious now that the country is in a downward spiral of poverty and unrest. Like the European Union, Asean has always understood that economic growth and open markets cannot be pursued in isolation: good economics are founded on good politics. But the politics of Burma are poisoned, and now need urgently to be transformed, for the wider health of the region.

We welcome the positive and conciliatory statement issued on Nov. 9 by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, holder of the Nobel Prize for Peace and figurehead of the Burmese opposition. She signaled her desire to begin soon a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the Burmese regime. She also emphasized the need for a growing role of the United Nations in Burma, and underlined the need to engage with other political forces, including Burma’s ethnic nationalities. Those are welcome steps.

It’s high time the regime engaged in a genuine dialogue. In this respect, the regime must remove restraints on Suu Kyi, give unfettered access to Ibrahim Gambari, the UN secretary general’s special envoy, and heed the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Paul Sergio Pinheiro. And they must enter wholeheartedly into a dialogue with Suu Kyi as well as with other opposition groups and ethnic leaders.

The goal must be genuine reconciliation and political transition. Nobody imagines that this process will be quick or simple. Burma is a complex mixture of ethnicity, religion and culture. The process will need to be broadly based and inclusive, taking careful account of the need to build a lasting stability which includes Burma’s key political and ethnic groups. The neighboring countries are well placed to support and encourage such a process. And although the military dictatorship must end, the military itself must continue to play an important role in any future government, as Suu Kyi herself has acknowledged.

Faced by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Burma, the international community, and in particular the European Union, has already extended its aid to address the needs of the most vulnerable people. The EU has also decided to reinforce existing sanctions against Burma in order to send a strong political message, and has consequently established a new series of targeted sanctions against the military regime. Likewise, the EU has made clear that it stands fully ready to review, amend or reinforce existing restrictive measures in the light of developments on the ground and the results of Gambari’s Good Offices Mission. We believe that positive change will be best encouraged by following a carrot and stick approach: a combination of restrictive, targeted measures on the one hand; and the alleviation of these measures as well as the prospect of a comprehensive economic initiative on the other. However, this move will become possible if, and only if, there is a clear signal that a genuine transformation leading to a new, democratic government of Burma is under way.

The prize for Burma’s long-suffering people — and for neighbors who have suffered too long from the problems of refugees, narcotics and instability which spill across Burma’s borders — is great indeed: a prosperous, stable Burma living up to its economic potential and adding to the region’s economic dynamism.

But achieving that prize will require sustained engagement and real mobilization by the international community. We will continue to stand by the Burmese people as they prepare to mark 60 years of independence. We hope that 2008 will finally bring peace and reconciliation to Burma.

Gordon Brown is the prime minister of the United Kingdom; Nicolas Sarkozy is the president of France.

Categorised in: News Article

This post was written by CALD