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The Third Letter.
Support Burma Trade Sanctions
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"Westreners", Micheal Nyunt, (Letter, 26/6) have no difficulty in
understanding the human rights abuses committed by the State Law and
Restoration Council (SLORC) in Burma.
Successive United Nations General Assembly resolutions have
deplored the regime's abuses, including the use of civilians for forced
labour, the denial of access by the political prisoners and the ongoing
persecution of ethnic minorities.
On the question of economics, Mr Nyunt totally misrepresents the
views of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.
Aung San Suu Kyi said on 11 March, "I think closer economic
encouragement at this point would be a mistake," and cautioned countries
who "acted as if trade were more important than justice and human rights".
Australians should be aware of the corrupt nature of economic
development in Burma.
Under the SLORC, the nation is now the world's largest producer
of heroin and the Australian Federal Police estimate that three quarters
of the heroin entering Australia originates there. This implications for
Australian companies investing in the country. Burmese joint ventures are
awash with drug money being laundered.
Massachusetts is the latest of several states in the United
States to pass sanction bills against companies dealing with SLORC and a
national sanctions bill goes before the US Congress in August.
Australia should support the demoncracy movement by discouraging
investment and consider joining the US in an international push for
sanctions.
[Janet Hunt, Aust. Council for Overseas Aid, Deakin, ACT, Australia,
1 July 1996].
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