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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.)