News from Burma "extremely disturbing" According to UN

The crackdown in Burma continues while Chevron continues to make huge profits and while much of the world quietly shakes its collective head and says, "tsk, tsk."

Everyone is waggling their finger at the Burmese dictators, but as democracy is ONCE AGAIN crushed by those who refused to allow Burma's properly elected president take control very little effective is being done.

Here is the latest from UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari (from BBC News):

UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari has described as "extremely disturbing" new arrests in Burma, calling on the ruling junta to stop detaining democracy activists.

Several prominent Burmese student leaders were arrested over the weekend.

Mr Gambari said the detentions ran "counter to the spirit of mutual engagement" between the UN and Burma...

According to the same article, the EU is progressively using their economic might to put pressure on Burma to end the crackdown. Unfortunately the impact is likely to be minor because 90% of Burma's exports go to other Asian nations. Nevertheless, the EU is taking an increasingly strong stand against Burma's dictators and their massacre of students and priests. This has, if nothing else, one major message. To paraphrase the (then) Bishop Desmond Tutu when I heard him during an anti-apartheid protest in my college days, it "backs the right horse," whether or not it is effective. And backing the right horse is sometimes the best you can do.

George Bush waggled his finger at the Burmese dictators, but hasn't followed the EU in the extend of economic pressure applied. Adding America's collective voice to that of the EU would be a big help. You can lobby your Congress Critters and the White House through this link. Tell them to follow the EU's lead in imposing a ban on imports of gems, timber, and metals from Burma, as well as voicing their support for the UN mission and go further by recognizing Aung San Suu Kyi as the democractically elected leader of Burma.

Chevron is the American company that does the most business (from what I can tell) with Burma. They take the typical approach to the massacre of civilians by a dictator by, in effect, saying they have no responsibility for anything except their profits, so who cares if some people die.

If you feel Chevron should be doing more than nothing to put pressure on the Burmese dictators they help prop up, please contact them and let them know (and, of course, you can choose not to buy Chevron gas):

Chevron:
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583, USA
Tel. +1 925-842-1000
comment@chevron.com

Finally I will note that Japan could be a major player in this. Normally cautious to the point of inaction on any controversial issue, the Japanese government has a particular interest in taking a stand against the Burmese dictators since it appears that the Burmese military murdered a Japanese reporter on camera:

(Image from BBC News)

This has sparked some real soul searching in Japan whose caution on almost all issues is matched perhaps only by their concern for the safety of their own people. Write to the Japanese government to express your hope that they will join the EU and the UN in imposing strong sanctions against Burma.

Embassy Address:
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20008

Phone: 202-238-6700

E-MAIL: jicc@embjapan.org

The EU alone will have little effect on Burma. But the UN, EU, America, Chevron and Japan TOGETHER can have an impact. It is true that nations like India and China are the largest trading partners with Burma, but the heat will begin to be felt from a combined effort off the EU, UN, America, Chevron and Japan...plus it would be strong backing for the right horse that could help keep up internal pressure on the dictators.

I will leave you with a statement by Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel laureate and the woman who won the last democractic election in Burma but was prevented from taking office by the military dictators: (full statement can be found here):

Those of us who decided to work for democracy in Burma made our choice in the conviction that the danger of standing up for basic human rights in a repressive society was preferable to the safety of a quiescent life in servitude. Ours is a nonviolent movement that depends on faith in the human predilection for fair play and compassion.

Some would insist that man is primarily an economic animal interested only in his material well-being. This is too narrow a view of a species which has produced numberless brave men and women who are prepared to undergo relentless persecution to uphold deeply held beliefs and principles. It is my pride and inspiration that such men and women exist in my country today...

Those fortunate enough to live in societies where they are entitled to full political rights can reach out to help their less fortunate brethren in other areas of our troubled planet. ...

There are multinational business concerns which have no inhibitions about dealing with repressive regimes. Their justification for economic involvement in Burma is that their presence will actually assist the process of democratization.

But investment that only goes to enrich an already wealthy elite bent on monopolizing both economic and political power cannot contribute toward égalité and justice — the foundation stones for a sound democracy.

I would therefore like to call upon those who have an interest in expanding their capacity for promoting intellectual freedom and humanitarian ideals to take a principled stand against companies that are doing business with the Burmese military regime. Please use your liberty to promote ours.

Please use YOUR freedoms to spread freedom to Burma. Support the US Campaign for Burma.

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