As featured in the Canberra Times 26 September, 2007
Australia must call on China to pressure Burma for peace
Most of Australia's heroin comes from Burma. Heroin is about the only product from that country that is found in Australia. It is one of the few commodities Burma exports. Drugs, oil, gas, gems, trees and travel are what the fragile economy is built on.
The Burmese economy tanked in the early 1990's following sanctions that were employed by Western countries due to the refusal of the military regime to acknowledge the election of Aung San Suu Kyi. By 1997, full investment and export bans were in place but the brutal dictatorship of General Than Shwe was looking for capital elsewhere and courting large neighbours India and China.
Burma is pretty much closed off from the West. The tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands in countries around Burma allegedly had little impact there. Though first hand accounts suggest the human toll there was in the thousands, official statistics state just a handful of deaths. Such duplicitous dealing in truth is typical of the regime that uses rape as a weapon of war and exports heroin to perpetuate its power.
Economic development in Burma was steady until 1962 when the military junta first came to power and enacted the "Burmese way to Socialism". Their isolationist policy had dire economic consequences. The crisis came to a head in mid 1988 when rice shortages and popular discontent led to street protests. August 8, 1988, is a day burned into the consciousness of many from Burma. On this day hundreds of thousands across the country marched demanding free and democratic elections. Thousands were killed in the crackdown. Elections were announced soon after and held in 1990. Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy were elected to power with over 80 per cent of the vote.
The generals refused to acknowledge the victory and instead continued her house arrest, where she is now suffering her third term and her twelfth year of detention. The crackdown though did encourage the regime to forgo their policy of isolationism and adopt a more expansionist economic policy.
What has been happening in Burma for over two decades has been a brutal clawing of power. At least one million people have been displaced. Official government oppression makes counting the dead impossible, but it numbers in the tens of thousands at least.
International sanctions started to bite in the late 1990s and consequently many large international investors pulled out, leaving little capital to fuel the regime's need to keep power. An army of between 400,000 and 500,000 for a country with a population of 50million (compared to the Australian Defence Force of about 70,000) needs a lot of resources. Huge forests of teak introduced much needed capital as did discoveries of oil, gas, copper and other minerals. With a strict limit on who they could export to, everyone's friend when such difficulties arise has recently been China.
As a result much of the arms and investment over the last two decades in Burma has come from China. India and Russia have also played a part, largely through arms sales. Such alliances make for an interesting time ahead for the international community in relation to Burma. The recent demonstrations that appear to be snowballing are likely to lead to a fierce crackdown. The United States, European Union and Australia all condemn the Burmese regime, yet it would be interesting to know what messages they are currently sending to China, India and Russia who have special relationships with the Burmese generals.
Howard and Rudd, in the midst of an election campaign that isn't, are yet to come out and make a statement about the current happenings in Burma. The time for diplomacy is now. Australia has a special relationship with China, much promoted at the recent APEC meeting, and also has growing ties with India and Russia. This places Australia in a unique position. The Foreign Minister is fond of promoting Australia as a middle power.
A strong handed policy of engagement and intervention has been his favoured tool in the Solomons, East Timor and Iraq, yet the current situation in Burma could really highlight the power of Australia and our Government. If the Burmese dictators are listening to anyone it is likely to be China. Pressure from China could deter a horrific situation such as the 1988 crackdown. Decisive and creative diplomacy could have an impact on an increasingly sensitive China, which is copping international pressure over Sudan, Tibet and other tricky human rights issues, particularly in the lead up to the Olympics. Is Australia ready to take the responsibility of what being a middle power really is? The coming weeks will tell in relation to Burma.
Jack de Groot CEO Caritas Australia
See also: Press release - Social Justice Sunday – Burma is our neighbour -- 27/09/2007 Press release - Australia’s role in urgent road map to peace and democracy in Burma -- 25/09/2007
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