Wen Jiabao in Myanmar: China and the West cover up human rights problems
AsiaNews spoke to Tint Swe, a member of the Council of Ministers of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) set up by refugees from Myanmar after the 1990 elections won by the National League for Democracy, which the military junta never recognised. Having fled to India in 1990, he has lived in New Delhi since 21 December 1991, where he serves as the NCGUB information officer for South Asia and East Timor.
“For Burma, neighbouring China, India and (the ten-member) ASEAN bloc are as important as America and the EU countries.” Accordingly, by mid-2010, all these nations and groupings have taken action or made statements about Burma. It is not clear how and why.
The country’s democratic oppositions hailed the resolution by the European Parliament of 20 May 2010 on the situation in Burma/Myanmar. It reaffirmed Europe’s unwavering commitment to the people of Burma. It is the same practice of Burmese activists who on all political occasions salute the Union of Burma, but not the flag. The European resolution condemns holding elections under completely undemocratic conditions based on rules that try to exclude the entire opposition.
However, the Burma Campaign UK correctly condemned a joint statement issued by the European Union and ASEAN on 26 May as ‘pathetic’ and ‘irresponsible’ because it misrepresented reality and effectively amounted to a defence of the military dictatorship.
The campaign group noted how the military regime is ignoring efforts by the international community to help Burma, how UN and EU envoys have consistently been refused entry into the country. It slammed “both blocs” for “behaving like ostriches with their heads in the sand when it comes to the reality of what is happening in Burma.”
U Win Tin, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), wrote an article in the Jakarta Post on the 20th anniversary of the 1990 election. Since Aung San Suu Kyi is not allowed to write or speak, this article comes as a message on behalf not only NLD but also the people of Burma.
In it, he wrote that ASEAN must recognise that what happens in Myanmar will affect the entire region.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has excused ASEAN’s inaction by stating that ASEAN is “not a magic wand that can deliver a miracle in every issue.”
For U Win Tin, ASEAN may not be a “magic wand”, but it certainly can have the greatest geostrategic influence on the behaviour of its most unruly member.
Some countries and analysts have different diplomatic excuses whenever pro-democracy movements ask for international support.
ASEAN has argued that it cannot intervene in the internal affairs of one of its members, yet all of its members suffer the ill effects of Burma’s turmoil.
India might say that no one cannot export democracy but then secretly sells Burma arms and ammunitions.
In the end, China, Russia, India and others are reluctant to stop arms sales and energy deals, which are basically done by bartering.
US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Kurt Campbell, who visited Burma in April 2009 and May 2010 met with both junta officials and NLD leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, then he flew to China. This time US expressed concerns over a nuclear deal between North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il and Burmese dictator Than Shwe.
On 28 May 2010, seven-member panel from the United Nations said that North Korea was exporting nuclear and ballistic missile technology and using intermediaries, front companies and overseas criminal networks to circumvent UN sanctions. The researchers indicated that Pyongyang is involved in banned nuclear and ballistic activities in Iran, Syria and Myanmar.
America’s dealing with the junta is complicated. Senator Jim Webb has met with junta leaders and representatives at different times. His first visit to Burma led to the release of a US national who had been arrested. John Yettaw also provided the raison d'être for the Burmese junta to detain Aung San Suu Kyi. Whether accident or not, the incident and the senator’s visit gave Than Shwe an opportunity to add a clause in the election laws, which were announced on 8 March 2010, barring Aung San Suu Kyi and over 2000 political prisoners from the next election.
It might not be a coincidence, but Senator Webb issued a statement on President Obama’s offshore drilling moratorium on 27 May, a few days before he is due back in Burma again.
The statement said, “In order to increase America’s energy independence and address our energy needs, we must continue to pursue robust energy policies”.
Maybe America is divided with the State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs expressing different views.
The Burmese opposition is suspicious of Jim Webb’s dealings with the junta.
Just before the American Senator arrives, Chinese Prime Minister will be visiting Burma. Burmese people have heard on 4 April that China said it hoped Myanmar's elections later this year would lead to national reconciliation.
Again, on 27 March, China joined Australia and the US in telling the junta to free all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and allow them to participate in upcoming elections.
Unfortunately, Chinese leader’s visit was delayed because of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau earthquake in mid-April when there were also unprecedented and unexplained reports of a series of boom blasts in Burma.
Officially, it is known that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will meet top junta leaders to discuss and sign a number of co-operation documents covering economy, trade, finance, energy, science and technology.
It is also believed that although Chinese authorities never talk about Burma politics in public, they have privately told their Burmese counterpart that their government was disappointed with Burma’s electoral laws banning dissidents, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the 88 Generation Students group from the election.
China’s ambassador was the first to congratulate the NLD a day after the election it won the election in 1990.
Chinese ambassador Ye Dabo met with the Election Commission on 19 May this year. None of the ambassadors from Burma’s other neighbours has shown such interest.
India has for example kept her mouth shut and her hands tied.
Running from India through Burma to China, the Ledo Road links up to the old Burma Road. Built by US General V J Stilwell in early 1945 at the urging of Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek, its time now appears to be over. In its place, a “Two-Ocean Strategy” is emerging.
Based on a network of road, rail and air transport as well as the gas pipeline linking the Bay of Bengal to China’s Yunnan province, the new strategic system will provide access to the Indian Ocean.
It is thus understandable why the Chinese and Americans are busy in Burma. Bilateral talks on democracy may be possible, but on the sideline.
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