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Expert questions approach to regime
South China Morning Post
Monday September 15 1997
Burma
Expert questions approach to regime
ANALYSIS WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok
Whenever Western nations hold a party these days, "except Burma" is almost
invariably written on the invitations.
This makes the hosts feel better about their "moral" foreign policy, but is it
the right one?
One of Britain's leading experts on Burma, Martin Smith, argues that the haste
to fence off a military regime may be understandable, but is based on a
fundamental misunderstanding.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook raised the hair-trigger hackles of
Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, this month by stressing that
Burma - which became an eager member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) in July - would not be on the guest list for the annual
Asia-Europe Meeting next year.
Mr Cook said the Burmese junta's unbending hostility ruled out any chance the
European Union might lift its visa ban in time for the summit.
He made it clear this was fine by the new British Government when he also
accused the regime of "conniving" with drug barons.
"The failure of the regime in Burma to address this issue, indeed their
apparent willingness to abet and profit from the drugs trade, deserves the
strongest condemnation," he said.
Proof indeed that 35 years after the military seized power, the West has
finally discovered that Burma has become a useful whipping boy for governments
trying to pursue an "ethical" foreign policy - such as Britain's New Labour.
But is this going to change the nature of Burma's widely reviled regime?
"Not really, no. The world has woken up to the tragedy of Burma rather late.
But how do you deal with a country which is so isolated by isolating it more?"
asked Mr Smith.
"I think this is something European and American governments haven't quite
understood. You can condemn a government, but if you want governments to
change you've got to talk."
The junta's opponents in the West will argue that talking has not worked. For
example, within days of joining ASEAN, it engaged in another bloody campaign
against a rebel minority.
Nevertheless, there has been "too much megaphone diplomacy", said Mr Smith.
"Burma is so isolated . . . It's become its own world, with its own values and
judgments. Often it doesn't realise that in the rest of the world things
aren't done like this any more."
Malaysia's ASEAN partners have made it clear there is no chance of them
boycotting the Asia-Europe summit.
Mr Smith said ASEAN's arguments that dealing with Burma would help loosen it
up were "rational", but probably not enough.
"Nobody really has the answer. I suspect you need a bit of both [carrot and
stick]," he said. "What I am pretty sure of is that simply slamming the door
on Burma won't do much good . . . After all, that is how the generals in
Rangoon expect foreigners to behave."