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NEWS - THE TIME FOR BURMA'S FREEDO



Subject: NEWS -  THE TIME FOR BURMA'S FREEDOM IS NOW  by Corazon Aquino

KOREAN HERALD: THE TIME FOR BURMA'S FREEDOM IS NOW

24 June, 1999 by Corazon Aquino

[Following are excerpts taken from keynote speeches made during a
conference of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia Pacific in
Seoul.
- KH Ed.]

By Corazon Aquino Former president of the Philippines

In 1997, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) overrode
civilized world opinion and accepted junta-ruled Burma as a member on
the
premise that "constructive engagement" would prod the military junta to
relax its grip and undertake serious measures for democracy.

It is now 1999. It appears that the regime of the Burmese junta is more
entrenched and crueler than ever. Appeasement seems to have emboldened
it
to further consolidate power and worsen its methods of control.

In the meantime, the junta continues to set in motion several courses of
action to build up the illusion that Burma is indeed on her way to
democracy. The favorite showcase is, of course, the national convention
called to draft a constitution -- a process that has taken all of seven
years, with no indication that a free constitution will ever really be
produced.

It is time to call a spade a spade, for time is running out for the
Burmese
people.

As the world prepares for the new millennium, the Burmese people remain
trapped in a form of bondage that can only remind us of Moses and his
people in Egypt, to build up the Pharaoh's pride or the junta's tourism
program.

It is not for any lack of trying; that is clear. Like the Filipinos --
perhaps even more than the Filipinos - the Burmese people have paid
their
dues for freedom.

In the Age of Global Democracy ushered in by the fall of Marcos in
Manila
and the fall of the Wall in Berlin, it is unfair that those who have
paid
as much for it in Rangoon should not enjoy even a morsel.

We can no longer close our eyes or take our own sweet time to help Burma
achieve her freedom, especially those countries whose freedom was
achieved
with international help -- from an enlightened foreign press to
enlightened
foreign governments.

Constructive engagement only bought time for the junta to consolidate
its
grip and to silence more of the friends of freedom in Burma.


This engagement has been purely destructive of Burma's best interests,
and
constructive only for the junta's designs. It has softened the severity
of
the embargoes called by some enlightened countries and allowed the junta
to
sell the services of Burma's slave labor.


The key element of progress in the wired world of the age of information
is freedom.

So let us stop quibbling about how best to achieve progress in Burma --
by
more dictatorship and less freedom now for more prosperity and more
liberty
later -- and act to give Burma her freedom as soon as possible.

There is no time to lose. Every second of waltzing with the dictators in
Burma is another hour of agony for the people of that sad country.