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Letter to the Editors re. Burma (fw



Subject: Letter to the Editors re. Burma (fwd)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 17:15:50 -0700 (PDT)
To: letters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: bjp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, draeger@xxxxxxxx, bbeck@xxxxxx
Subject: Letter to the Editors re. Burma


Editors of the OC Register:

In your July 10 Editorial, "Bright Light in Burma," you argue against 
trade sanctions against SLORC, the military regime currently in power in 
Burma.  

During a 1993 visit to Thailand with six other Nobel Laureates to call 
for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of 
Burma who was imprisoned by SLORC, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, 
"International pressure can change the situation in Burma.  Tough 
sanctions, not 'conservative engagement', finally brought the release of 
Nelson Mandela and the dawn of a new era in my country.  This is the 
language that must be spoken with tyrants, for sadly, this is the only 
language they understand."

Speaking of U.S. investors such as Pepsico and UNOCAL, Suu Kyi herself said, 
"These people are hurrying to make cosy business deals while pretending 
that nothing is wrong.  They need to be reminded that this is one of the 
most brutal military regimes in the world and putting money into the 
country now is simply supporting a system that is severly harmful to the 
people of Burma."

Those are the words of the popularly elected leader of Burma.  But, of 
course, the editors of the Orange County Register, not the Burmese 
themselves, know what is best for Burma.

The editorial also makes the utterly false claim that "free trade with 
the old Soviet bloc brought in refreshing gusts of democracy and free 
markets."  The editors, perhaps, were unaware that President Boris 
Yeltsin commanded almost total control of the Russian mass-media.  Maybe 
they didn't read the LA Times article (July 9--"Americans Tell of Role in 
Yeltsin Win") which documented the subversive actions of American 
political strategists and businessmen which helped to undermine the 
Russians' right to self-determination.

Gusts of democracy indeed.  What utter propaganda.

Returning to Burma, the editors state that "Sanctions only harm businesses 
and middle-class citizens, destroying the livelihoods and international 
contacts of the very people needing the private resources to build 
democracy and freedom."

Why isn't anyone asking the Burmese people what they want?  Why do the 
editors claim to know what is best for them?  Maybe they haven't heard 
reports (broadcast on Pacifica Radio, for instance) from the actual 
members of the popular government exiled by SLORC.  They have made it 
clear that economic sanctions only hurt SLORC, not the people of Burma, 
since the vast majority of Burmese have no contact, either as consumers 
or workers, with firms like UNOCAL.  Except when they are removed from 
their villages and forced to work on UNOCAL's natural gas pipeline.

Money from investments such as UNOCAL's goes directly into the SLORC 
army, which, as the editors are aware of, is guilty of numerous instances 
of arrest, torture, and killing of dissidents.  SLORC stands to make an 
estimated $10 million with its deal with UNOCAL.  Villages are being 
destroyed along the pipeline's construction site, and the inhabitants are 
being forced against their will to work on the pipeline.  The world needs 
to know this, and this is why I am writing this letter.

But of course, the editors of the Orange County Register know what is 
best for Burma.


Justin Beck
Irvine

E-mail: justin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx