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DenverPost 7Jul96



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>From The Denver Post, Sunday, 7 July 1996:

World's conscience turns to Myanmar
By Ved Nanda

The military regime in Myanmar remains defiant in the face of worldwide 
disapproval of its violations of basic human rights.  It refuses to enter 
into dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace 
Prize laureate, whose national League for Democracy won a landslide 
victory in the 1990 general elections.  The military government, the State 
Law and Order Restoration Council, declared the result invalid, placed Suu 
Kyi under house arrest for "endangering the state" and imprisoned or 
exiled opposition leaders.  Its ruthless rule and oppression of dissenters 
continues.  Suu Kyi was released in July of 1995.

The latest crackdown occurred in May when the junta arrested 262 NLD 
activists who were planning to hold a convention to commemorate the sixth 
anniversary of the party's victory in the 1990 general elections and to 
draft a new constitution for Myanmar.  More than 100 of those arrested 
remain in detention apparently without trial or charges.  Suu Kyi 
continues to hold public meetings in the compound outside her home, where 
the usual crowd of about 5,000 people listen to her talk about her efforts 
to move Myanmar toward democracy.

Disapproval abroad of Myanmar's human rights record isn't reflected in 
tangible international action aimed at bringing about change.  Among 
Myanmar's neighbors, the Association of South East Asian Nations has opted 
for "constructive engagement."  China, Japan and Thailand have encouraged 
investment in Myanmar, especially in its rich natural resources sector.  
India has publicly kept mum, mainly because of the apprehension felt by a 
large number of people of Indian origin in Myanmar, that they would suffer 
retaliatory action were India to take a critical stand against the 
country.  Also, in Asia, a hands-off policy in internal affairs suits all, 
especially many with skeletons in their own closets.

Recently, however, Myanmar has felt some international pressure following 
the death in a Rangoon jail last month of the honorary consul of Norway 
and Denmark, James Leander Nichols, who also represented Finland and 
Switzerland.  Nichols was sentenced in April to three years imprisonment 
for operating a telephone and fax machine from his home without government 
authorization.  Nichols was Suu Kyi's supporter and friend.

Denmark has asked the European Union to impose economic sanctions against 
the military regime and has demanded an independent autopsy on Nichols, 
64, who was suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition.  The 
U.N. has now appointed a new rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.  He is 
Ragsoomer Lallah, a former judge and minister of justice in Mauritius who 
monitored human rights in Chile from 1983 to 1994.

In the United States the momentum is growing for sanctioning Myanmar.  
Several American companies, including Levi Strauss, Reebok and Liz 
Clairborne, have withdrawn from the country.  Pepsi is cutting back.  Ten 
days ago, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved by a 27-0 vote a 
bill that would bar any U.S. air service to or investment in that country. 
The sanctions would remain in force until SLORC hands over the power to an 
elected government.  A fortnight ago Massachusetts became the first U.S. 
state to ban state contracts with companies having commercial ties to 
Myanmar.  Earlier, half a dozen U.S. cities passed similar regulations.

The Clinton administration hasn't been keen to impose trade and investment 
sanctions against Myanmar.  But now it appears to be willing to work with 
Congress to design a legislative approach.  It recently sent two envoys to 
the Southeast Asian countries to persuade them to take concerted action 
aimed at pressuring the junta to step down.  Commerce Secretary Mickey 
Kantor has said he believes economic sanctions could be effective, citing 
"times when economic restrictions done in an appropriate fashion...can be 
very helpful."  American oil companies operating in Myanmar, on the other 
hand, are lobbying hard against sanctions.

Burmese exiles and dissidents have recently launched a grass-roots 
campaign over the Internet in support of sanctions.  Burmese students at 
U.S. universities have been creating awareness and seeking support for 
democracy in Myanmar for quite sometime.  The human rights law clinic at 
the University of Denver presented a petition against the military junta 
to the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The world community must send a strong and clear message to the junta that 
it has no choice but to restore democracy in the former Burma.  ASEAN 
countries must move beyond the policy of "constructive engagement."  
Japan, Europe and the U.S. must impose economic sanctions.  Comprehensive 
and universal sanctions all work in Myanmar as they did to help dismantle 
apartheid system in South Africa.

(Ved P. Nanda is director of the international Legal Studies Program at 
the University of Denver College of Law.)