Burmese Activists Persist in Demonstrations against Military Government; Washington Post Calls for Action by International Community
By Daniel Hollingsworth
September 4, 2007 | Printer Friendly

An August 30 editorial in the Washington Post praises the courage of protesters in Burma who have remained defiant despite the crackdown from the Burmese government, calling for a greater response from the rest of the world to act against “a kind of slow-motion Darfur” taking place in Burma.  The BBC writes that “Burma has witnessed a wave of public dissent in recent weeks over a doubling of fuel prices, leading to the arrest of more than 100 activists. It is the most sustained public dissent Burma has seen in 20 years, but whether it has rattled the military government is hard to tell.”  The BBC report adds that the government concluded the National Convention, drafting a constitution that claims to draw a “roadmap to democracy,” but “analysts say that any charter the assembly endorses will be aimed at cementing the power of Burma's military leaders.”

The Washington Post editorial criticizes U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s statement encouraging “all parties to avoid any provocative action,” dismissing the idea that Burmese activists “should refrain from ‘provoking’ the regime by exercising their inalienable right to assemble and speak out.”  The editorial writes that “if this isn’t a fit subject for the Security Council, it’s hard to know why the organization exists.” 

On August 22 the U.S. Department of State issued the following statement condemning the actions of the Burmese government:

“We condemn the Burmese regime's arrest of Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, and several other pro-democracy activists on August 22 for organizing peaceful demonstrations to express public concern about recent increases in the price of fuel. The United States calls for the immediate release of these activists and for an end to the regime's blatant attempt to intimidate and silence those who are engaged in peaceful promotion of democracy and human rights in Burma. We call on the regime to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the leaders of Burma's democracy movement and ethnic minority groups and to take tangible steps toward a transition to civilian, democratic rule.

“We renew our call for Burma's military leaders to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Further, we call on the Burmese regime to end its military attacks and human rights abuses against civilians in ethnic minority areas, and to lift restrictions on humanitarian organizations in Burma. Improving bilateral relations between Burma and the United States depends on the Burmese regime taking concrete and credible steps in this direction.”

However, the Washington Post argues that “the United States, too, should have learned by now that rhetoric is not enough; a strategy is needed.”  It identifies the National League for Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi as “a legitimate political authority waiting in the wings” and calls on the Bush administration “to make clear to other nations with influence in Burma – China, India, Thailand and Singapore, to name a few – that a democratic transition there is a U.S. policy priority and a prerequisite for peace and stability in Asia.”

The Council for a Community of Democracies wishes to express its support for the efforts of the Democracy Coalition Project and numerous others in urging U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to oppose the actions by the government to consolidate military rule through the National Convention.  This letter is in response to an appeal by Burmese Members of Parliament who were elected in the 1990 election asking Ban Ki-Moon to step up his efforts to help realize national reconciliation and democratization in Burma.

References:

Washington Post: Courage in Burma

BBC News: Burma Completes Charter Outline

U.S. State Department: Arrest of Pro-Democracy Activists in Burma

Letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon by Democracy Coalition Project

Action Call by National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, National Council of the Union of Burma, Members of Parliament Union, and National League for Democracy