[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Alexander Downer's IHT Article on B (r)



Subject: Re: Alexander Downer's IHT Article on Burma

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------67469A7F14BDFCB83F564F85
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Discussing democracy and human rights with SPDC is like playing a harp to the
ears of a buffalo. In the end the Burmese people will be responsible for
change
in Burma. By this, I believe the people inside Burma will decide when
enough is
enough and take matters into their own hands. And SPDC policies of iron rule
and total failure will provide the reason for the people to revolt. The people
will decide. We the so called dissidents (distructionist elements according to
SPDC) are only providing support in education and information.



David Arnott wrote:

> International Herald Tribune
> August 23, 1999
>
> A Start to Help Set Burmese on the Road to Human Rights
> By Alexander Downer (the Australian foreign minister)
>
> The question of Burma has vexed the international community for the entire
> 11 years since the current military-backed government assumed power in
> Rangoon. Australia believes that now is the time to engage the regime in a
> serious dialogue on the protection and promotion of human rights in Burma.
>
> Such a dialogue is one way of improving the lot of ordinary Burmese. It is
> also a means of drawing the regime into a discussion on issues that have
> caused great concern outside Burma. To do nothing is to fail to confront
> the problem.
>
> Simply shouting from the sidelines has apparently achieved nothing. It is
> one thing to criticize the Burmese government - and we have done a great
> deal of that - but we are also looking at other initiatives to help
> alleviate the plight of the people in Burma.
>
> That is why two months agoI suggested to the then Burmese foreign minister,
> U Ohn Gyaw, that Rangoon consider setting up an independent national human
> rights institution, as Indonesia did some years ago under the regime of
> President Suharto. I believed that such an approach would provide a way
> through which Burma could work to guarantee human rights within its own
> jurisdiction.
>
> I pursued my proposal with the present foreign minister, U Win Aung, when I
> met him in Singapore late last month at the annual post-ministerial
> conference of the Association of South East Asian Nations. It was in this
> context that Australia's human rights comissioner, Chris Sidoti, visited
> Burma this month to discuss with officials there the possible role of an
> independent human rights institution.
>
> Prior to Mr. Sidoti's visit, two middle-ranking Burmese officials visited
> Australia in mid-July for an introduction to the Australian approach to
> national human rights institutions, and for broad discussions on human
> rights.
>
> Australia's experience has been that work toward the establishment of
> national human rights organizations by governments seeking to respond to
> the concerns of the international community can make a positive impact over
> the longer term.
>
> The fact that the Burmese government can see the point of such a body,
> although it has yet to make up its mind about how it would work, is a good
> step forward.
>
> I have no illusions. This is a first step in what will be an incremental
> process. But we want to do what we can to encourage an improvement in human
> rights in Burma.
>
> Ultimately, setting up a national human rights institution will need a firm
> commitment from the Burmese themselves.I am well aware that the development
> of a genuinely independent body, if indeed that is possible, would take a
> considerable length of time. It would also have to be established according
> to internationally accepted standards.
>
> To be blunt, if the Burmese were to construct a bricks and mortar
> institution next week, it would not be credible. Our immediate objective is
> to engage the key figures in a process of dialogue to better promote and
> protect human rights.
>
> I know that there are those who do not accept that it is possible to talk
> to the regime about human rights issues. The opposition National League for
> Democracy led by Nobel Peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that
> our proposal is ''misguided.'' But human rights are a matter of
> international concern, and as their protection is the responsibility of the
> national government, we have to deal with the government. We have kept the
> league informed about developments concerning the proposal, and will
> continue to do so.
>
> The Australian government's policy on Burma remains focused on the key
> goals of advancing the cause of democracy and promoting greater respect for
> human rights. I have consistently called on the Burmese government to enter
> into substantive discussions as soon as possible with the league and ethnic
> minorities, leading to genuine political reform.
>
> We owe it to the Burmese people to find creative ways to encourage reform
> and reconciliation in their country.
>
> Internet ProLink PC User



--------------67469A7F14BDFCB83F564F85
Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Description: Card for Myint, Richard
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf"

begin:          vcard
fn:             Richard Myint
n:              Myint;Richard
org:            Myint Family
adr;dom:        31349 Santa Cruz Way;;;Union City;CA;94587;
email;internet: ramyint@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
tel;home:       510-429-8442
x-mozilla-cpt:  ;0
x-mozilla-html: FALSE
version:        2.1
end:            vcard


--------------67469A7F14BDFCB83F564F85--