For Burma, neighbours China, India and the Asean bloc are as important as America and the EU countries. Accordingly, at the middle of this year those nations and blocs have been doing something with or telling something to Burma. But for what and how?
The European Parliament’s resolution of May 20 on the situation in Burma/Myanmar was hailed by the democratic opposition group. It reaffirms Europe’s unwavering commitment to the people of Burma. It is the same practice as that of Burmese activists who at all political occasions salute the Union of Burma flag, not the banner that represents the military government. The resolution condemns the holding of elections under completely undemocratic conditions and on the basis of rules drafted in a clear attempt to exclude the entire opposition.
But the joint statement issued by the European Union and Asean on May 26 was correctly condemned by the Burma Campaign UK as “pathetic” and “irresponsible” and that it misrepresented reality by effectively amounting to a defence of the military dictatorship. The campaign group gave all the facts about how the military regime ignored the international efforts on Burma as UN and EU envoys have consistently been refused entry. The statement also said, “Both blocs are behaving like ostriches with their heads in the sand when it comes to the reality of what is happening in Burma.”
U Win Tin, the leader of the National League for Democracy party wrote an article in the Jakarta Post on the 20th anniversary of the 1990 election (May 27). While the junta abjectly denies Aung San Suu Kyi the right to write or speak, U Win Tin’s message represents not only the NLD but also the people of Burma. He said Asean must recognise that what happens in Burma affects the entire region. Secretary-General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan has excused the bloc’s inaction by stating Asean is “not a magic wand that can deliver a miracle in every issue”. He argued that while the bloc may not be a “magic wand”, it was certainly poised to have the greatest geostrategic influence on the behaviour of its most unruly member.
Some countries and analysts think if pro-democracy movements ask for international support, they give different diplomatic excuses. Asean would say it can’t intervene in the internal affairs of a member state, even as its members suffer the ill effects of Burma’s turmoil. India would say it can’t export democracy but secretly sells arms and ammunition. It is because China, Russia, India and others dither to disrupt arms and energy deals, which are basically conducted through a barter system.
The US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, Dr. Kurt Campbell, who visited was in Burma in April last year, revisited this month and met both junta and NLD leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi. He then he flew to China. This time the US expressed concerns about a nuclear deal between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Burmese dictator Senior General Than Shwe.
On May 28, a seven-member UN panel said that North Korea was exporting nuclear and ballistic missile technology and using intermediaries, shell companies and overseas criminal networks to circumvent UN sanctions. The researchers indicated that Pyongyang is involved in banned nuclear and ballistic activities in Iran, Syria and Burma.
America’s dealings with the junta are complicated as Senator Jim Webb has also been meeting junta leaders and representatives here and there. His first visit to Burma was made fruitful for America by bringing the American swimmer back home. John Yettaw provided the raison d'être for the Burmese junta to extend Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention. Whether accident or not, the drama and the senator’s visit gave Than Shwe a chance to kill two birds with one stone. The regime was able to add a clause in the election laws announced on March 8 to bar Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from the next election.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Senator Jim Webb issued a statement on US President Barack Obama’s offshore drilling moratorium on May 27 within a few days of him returning to Burma. He said that “in order to increase America’s energy independence and address our energy needs, we must continue to pursue robust energy policies …”. Maybe America is as divided judging by the different tones of the State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, incongruous for a common objective. Who can blame the Burmese opposition for being suspicious of Jim Webb’s dealings with the junta?
Just before the senator arrives, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Burma. Burmese people heard on April 4 that China said it hoped Burma’s elections this year would lead to national reconciliation and again on March 27 that China had joined Australia and the US in urging the junta to free all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and allow them to participate in upcoming elections. Unfortunately, the premier’s visit was delayed because of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau earthquake mid-April when there were also unprecedented and unexplained reports of a series of explosions in Burma.
Officially it is known that Wen will meet junta top dogs to discuss and sign a number of co-operation deals covering economics, trade, finance, energy, science and technology.
It is also believed that although the Chinese never publicly talk about Burma politics, the officials have said privately that Beijing was disappointed over Burma’s electoral laws banning dissidents, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the 88 Generation Students group from the election. It was China’s ambassador who first congratulated the election winner NLD a day after the election in 1990. It is also ambassador Ye Dabo who met the Election Commission on May 19. No ambassadors from Burma’s other neighbours have shown any such interest.
India keeps her mouth shut and hands tied. The Ledo Road, known as the Burma Road, was constructed by US General V J Stilwell
in early 1945, but it was laid at the suggestion of Chinese General Chiang Kai-shek. While it originated in India and passed through Burma, it ended up in China.
The Ledo era was long ago and the highway has long fallen into disrepair, but what has arisen is China’s “Two-Ocean Strategy”. The Indian Ocean will be easily accessible to the northern neighbour through a strategic network of road, rail and air transport. There’s also the gas pipeline from the Bay of Bengal to China’s Yanan province. So it is understandable why Chinese and Americans are busy with Burma. Tête-à-tête about democracy will is merely a possible but sideline issue of the talks.
