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(December
15, 2007/ Manila, Philippines) Just two months ago, the world
was shocked and outraged by the violent repression of peaceful
demonstrations that took place in Burma. The images may have
vanished from our screens. But we cannot and will not forget the
plight of the Burmese people.
A country
which has the natural resources to be an economic powerhouse is
instead the sick man of Southeast Asia. As the rest of the
region advances into the digital age, Burma is in danger of
retreating to the dark ages. Cut off from the outside world and
denied access not only to democracy and respect for human
rights, but also to proper education and basic economic rights,
its society is in a state of disarray. The huge demonstrations
and protests over recent months have shown that the Burmese
people have been pushed beyond breaking point by the regime.
Last week a
new generation of leaders gathered in Singapore to mark an
important milestone: 40 years of ASEAN [Association of Southeast
Asian Nations]. We welcomed that celebration: ASEAN today
represents a proud and prosperous region standing at the heart
of the global economy, its voice heard and respected across the
world. ASEAN’s leaders faced the twin challenges of enshrining a
charter that commits them to respect democratic and human
rights, while dealing with the ongoing crisis in Burma. The
Burmese government was sent a clear message: there is no going
back. We agree.
It is
obvious now that the country is in a downward spiral of poverty
and unrest. Like the European Union, Asean has always understood
that economic growth and open markets cannot be pursued in
isolation: good economics are founded on good politics. But the
politics of Burma are poisoned, and now need urgently to be
transformed, for the wider health of the region.
We welcome
the positive and conciliatory statement issued on Nov. 9 by Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, holder of the Nobel Prize for Peace and
figurehead of the Burmese opposition. She signaled her desire to
begin soon a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the Burmese
regime. She also emphasized the need for a growing role of the
United Nations in Burma, and underlined the need to engage with
other political forces, including Burma’s ethnic nationalities.
Those are welcome steps.
It’s high
time the regime engaged in a genuine dialogue. In this respect,
the regime must remove restraints on Suu Kyi, give unfettered
access to Ibrahim Gambari, the UN secretary general’s special
envoy, and heed the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur
on Human Rights Paul Sergio Pinheiro. And they must enter
wholeheartedly into a dialogue with Suu Kyi as well as with
other opposition groups and ethnic leaders.
The goal
must be genuine reconciliation and political transition. Nobody
imagines that this process will be quick or simple. Burma is a
complex mixture of ethnicity, religion and culture. The process
will need to be broadly based and inclusive, taking careful
account of the need to build a lasting stability which includes
Burma’s key political and ethnic groups. The neighboring
countries are well placed to support and encourage such a
process. And although the military dictatorship must end, the
military itself must continue to play an important role in any
future government, as Suu Kyi herself has acknowledged.
Faced by the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in Burma, the international
community, and in particular the European Union, has already
extended its aid to address the needs of the most vulnerable
people. The EU has also decided to reinforce existing sanctions
against Burma in order to send a strong political message, and
has consequently established a new series of targeted sanctions
against the military regime. Likewise, the EU has made clear
that it stands fully ready to review, amend or reinforce
existing restrictive measures in the light of developments on
the ground and the results of Gambari’s Good Offices Mission. We
believe that positive change will be best encouraged by
following a carrot and stick approach: a combination of
restrictive, targeted measures on the one hand; and the
alleviation of these measures as well as the prospect of a
comprehensive economic initiative on the other. However, this
move will become possible if, and only if, there is a clear
signal that a genuine transformation leading to a new,
democratic government of Burma is under way.
The prize
for Burma’s long-suffering people -- and for neighbors who have
suffered too long from the problems of refugees, narcotics and
instability which spill across Burma’s borders -- is great
indeed: a prosperous, stable Burma living up to its economic
potential and adding to the region’s economic dynamism.
But
achieving that prize will require sustained engagement and real
mobilization by the international community. We will continue to
stand by the Burmese people as they prepare to mark 60 years of
independence. We hope that 2008 will finally bring peace and
reconciliation to Burma.
Gordon Brown
is the prime minister of the United Kingdom; Nicolas Sarkozy is
the president of France. |
