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Posted on 04/03/2005 2:50:58 PM PDT by LwinAungSoe
Our neighbour to the west continues to bluster, obfuscate and prevaricate over what it must do. With the recent succession of military musical chairs and semi-coups, poor Burma has plumbed new depths in its world standing. Its continuing refusal to accept decent norms in the treatment of its own people and its neighbours debases Burmese and embarrasses its friends. The time is approaching for Burma to become chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. If that happens while Burma remains a military dictatorship, continues repressing its democrats and refuses to discuss change, many Asean activities will grind to a halt and the world will simply stop doing much diplomatic business with the regional group. That cannot happen. If Burma will not change or adapt, it does not deserve to be chairman of the vital regional group.
Freedom House of America released its annual list last week of ``The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2005'', and Burma makes that list easily, along with Belarus, Haiti and Chechnya among the selected few. Transparency International rates Burma as the most corrupt country on five continents, with only four feudal African basket cases as worse. The International Narcotics Control Board ranks Burma as the region's biggest illicit drug centre, second to Afghanistan in opium and heroin production but unrivalled as a source and active peddler of methamphetamines and designer nightclub drugs, a growing market sector.
The Thai government is starting to look a little lonely as the chief defence counsel for the military dictators. To be fair, it is not entirely alone. Last week, a report commissioned by the European Union and written by two respected observers recommended that Brussels cave in. Researchers Robert Taylor of Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and Morten Pederson of the International Crisis Group made a dozen recommendations. Among them: Call it Myanmar as the generals wish, exchange high-level political visits, restore aid, and ``revise'' the strong sanctions Europe has kept on the dictators for years.
Mr Taylor and Mr Pederson realise their report needs instant defence, and insist that ``to recognise the political reality... is not to pander or kowtow to the interests of the generals''. Of course that is exactly what it would do, as even the special United Nations envoy to Burma has stated. Razali Ismail, one of Asia's most respected diplomats, has been locked out of Burma for a year. He says it is time to apply more pressure on the generals, who are swimming against the tide of democracy. His boss, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, wants to abolish the UN Commission on Human Rights rather than allow Burma to get the rotating seat for which it shortly will be eligible.
The European Union will consider its report and its options. As of now, European leaders boycott Burma, and bar Burmese officials from the entire EU territory. The United States has not closed the door to doing business with Asean in 2007 _ not quite anyway. But absent at least a show of good faith from the military junta, America says it will be difficult to attend meetings in Burma. The Malaysian parliament seems to feel the right thing to do is to skip the Burmese presidency. Philippines lawmakers have called for the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Only the personal leadership of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has kept a lid on discussion of Burma by Thai parliamentarians.
The government faces a dilemma over Burma, but that is the fault of the junta. If Thailand encourages democrats in Burma, that could trigger border crises and lead the generals to renew their irrational punishment of innocent Thai businessmen. Meanwhile, Thailand remains host to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who are not even recognised by Burma. Still, the Foreign Ministry and government should re-examine their role. Many see Thailand as the defender of Burma, rather than of Thai interests. This is a bad message for Thailand, and a terrible image to reflect to the world.
Really? Why?! What did
the people of Burma do
to help save Terri?!
A time honored Thai (among most other Southeast Asian countries) motive for consorting with the Scum that are the Generals in Burma.
Maybe someone in Burma said a prayer for her soul.
Maybe someone else in Burma does nothing more than Spam threads with Terri chat.
Truthfully I have not the slightest clue what anyone in Burma might of done, heck, I do not even know anyone near Burma.
I wish you luck in your quest to punish the people of Burma for failing Terri, I am sure they are deserving of your scorn.
Yep. Thus far the Thai govt is appeasing the Burmese. Several generals and politicinas have a lot to gain from the drug trade. Also the relation between Burma and Thailand is akin to Taiwan and China. Guess which one is China?
I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic. I doubt that us Terri nuts would even make such a statement seriously.
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He was being sarcastic. How can we as individuals help?
There was a program on BBC2 a few years ago about two very brave Americans who would regulraly sneak across the border to help the Karen tribes who live there in fear of attacks from the army. They would smuggle food and supplies to them. ONe of them was a doctor and one was a dentist. They would go and do what they could to help the people there. I was amazed that these two people would travel thousands of miles to risk their lifes from attack or from landmines to help these people. Very brave men indeed.
The most that the average person can do is pray and raise conciousness of the problems the poeple there face.
Thanks. She posts these stories on Burma all the time. Rarely gets any comments. When she does get comments, she doesn't stick around to answer.
Sarcasm. It works for us. It can work for you too. :)
THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SACASTIC FREEPERS SOCIETY. MOTO: YEAH, WE LOOOOVVVVEEEE LIBERALISM.
Well I must confess that I was totally shocked, shocked I'll tell you, to learn that a comment made by a Terri supporter was not exactly the Gospel truth. Everyone knows they have a direct line with the big guy in Heaven, and their opinions are the only acceptable ones to be held. The only people who would even dare to politely disagree with Terri supporters are Satin worshipers. The Freepers who post pictures of Judge Greer as a Nazi or refer to Mike's children as the Spawn of Satin are serious as a heart attack.
Well anyway I am just absolutely shocked that a Terri supporter could be sarcastic, maybe some day I could be sarcastic also.
Yes, we are capable of sarcasm. :P Things have been quite rough lately but I'm glad we ae getting back into a relative state of normalcy. But there are quite a lot of FReepers, well I guess ppl in genral, who miss such blatant sarcasm. No need to bring your guard up regrarding every outrageous comment on any issue.
How many corpses of Terri Schiavo does it take to change a light bulb?
Ah ha, ah, yeah....
That's just twisted...
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I am pleased to see that the people of Thailand are taking care of policy towards Burma. What with the bird flu, the Pope dying, Terry Schiavo, the coming super-volcano, and the scientists getting their hands on DNA from a Tyrannosaurus Rex, I just haven't had time to worry about it.