Most people, including many regional leaders, are disappointed in Burma's upcoming election. But who says it straight forward and deeply from the bottom of their heart?
Sharing their honest views about the country's dismal situation will help Burmese people's spirit.
“It's farce,” said Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, commenting on the election before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Hanoi. Romulo's words reflected the real situation, his real feelings.
Who else among other Asean members has said something as clear? No one.
Compare Romula's words with: “It's never too late,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, on the sidelines of the meetings on Wednesday. “We are not pessimistic, even at this stage, that we can all work together to ensure that the elections in Burma can be part of a solution rather than be a part of more difficulties ahead.”
But the election is less than 10 days away. And shouldn't we remember: Have Asean or world leaders ever managed to persuade or pressure the Burmese generals to carry out even one of their demands in the past?
Everyone—if he or she is not ignorant about Burma—knows that the main reason the ruling regime is holding the upcoming election is to perpetuate its rule of the country as a legitimate government. The election is meant to preserve power.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a recent interview that unless the junta releases political prisoners, the election will not be legitimate and credible. This time, Ban made a clear, direct statement compared to his ambiguous diplomatic remarks of the past.
Don't be surprised if the military regime actually releases a large number of prisoners soon. But as in the past, the junta will probably include only a handful of political prisoners among other prisoners to be released, and those would be political prisoners whose sentences are almost ready to expire.
Ban and the international community shouldn't accept such callous manipulations designed to quell criticism of the regime.
The litany of oppression and manipulation by the junta and its party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), are reported daily by independent, exiled Burmese media and international media outlets.
Cynically, the junta even issued a surprise order last week creating a new national flag. According to its 2008 Constitution, a new national flag was to be created on the day the Union Assembly (parliament) is convened with elected candidates. It was another sordid example of the junta violating its own laws and regulations.
With such a record, Romulo's “farce” hardly goes far enough. Criminal, dictatorial, the rule of psychopaths, many stronger words would apply and be understood and accepted as true, as heartfelt. The junta's many abuses, including destroying whole villages, which have led to calls for a UN-backed Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, justify such words.
It's time for words that truly reflect the situation in Burma because it's important to let the Burmese people know they're not alone. At this critical time, Asean and other leaders shouldn't allow their soft, diplomatic words to give any legitimacy to this election.
Before—and after—this election, say what you see and what you feel from the bottom of your hearts. Tell Burmese no lies.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=19859
Sharing their honest views about the country's dismal situation will help Burmese people's spirit.
“It's farce,” said Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, commenting on the election before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Hanoi. Romulo's words reflected the real situation, his real feelings.
Who else among other Asean members has said something as clear? No one.
Compare Romula's words with: “It's never too late,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, on the sidelines of the meetings on Wednesday. “We are not pessimistic, even at this stage, that we can all work together to ensure that the elections in Burma can be part of a solution rather than be a part of more difficulties ahead.”
But the election is less than 10 days away. And shouldn't we remember: Have Asean or world leaders ever managed to persuade or pressure the Burmese generals to carry out even one of their demands in the past?
Everyone—if he or she is not ignorant about Burma—knows that the main reason the ruling regime is holding the upcoming election is to perpetuate its rule of the country as a legitimate government. The election is meant to preserve power.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a recent interview that unless the junta releases political prisoners, the election will not be legitimate and credible. This time, Ban made a clear, direct statement compared to his ambiguous diplomatic remarks of the past.
Don't be surprised if the military regime actually releases a large number of prisoners soon. But as in the past, the junta will probably include only a handful of political prisoners among other prisoners to be released, and those would be political prisoners whose sentences are almost ready to expire.
Ban and the international community shouldn't accept such callous manipulations designed to quell criticism of the regime.
The litany of oppression and manipulation by the junta and its party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), are reported daily by independent, exiled Burmese media and international media outlets.
Cynically, the junta even issued a surprise order last week creating a new national flag. According to its 2008 Constitution, a new national flag was to be created on the day the Union Assembly (parliament) is convened with elected candidates. It was another sordid example of the junta violating its own laws and regulations.
With such a record, Romulo's “farce” hardly goes far enough. Criminal, dictatorial, the rule of psychopaths, many stronger words would apply and be understood and accepted as true, as heartfelt. The junta's many abuses, including destroying whole villages, which have led to calls for a UN-backed Commission of Inquiry to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, justify such words.
It's time for words that truly reflect the situation in Burma because it's important to let the Burmese people know they're not alone. At this critical time, Asean and other leaders shouldn't allow their soft, diplomatic words to give any legitimacy to this election.
Before—and after—this election, say what you see and what you feel from the bottom of your hearts. Tell Burmese no lies.
Source:http://irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=19859
Comments
Post a Comment