'Press for Change in Burma'

By Paula J. Dobriansky
June 19, 2006
The Wall Street Journal
Original Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115066914398883599.html

Today marks the 61st birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected leader of Burma's National League for Democracy. It is the third consecutive birthday that she has spent under detention -- and a stark reminder that not only she, but 50 million fellow Burmese are living without basic freedoms and human rights. Absent change, Burma is likely to continue a dangerous decline that threatens the welfare of its people and its neighbors alike.
Only by unconditionally releasing Ms. Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, restoring a democratic form of government, and observing international standards of human rights can Burma's regime bring stability, prosperity and peace to its country -- and international respect to its leaders. Toward that end, we are seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution that underscores the aforementioned goals, which were communicated by U.N. Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari to senior Burmese officials during his visit to the country last month. The U.S. is committed to working with the U.N. Security Council, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, regional institutions and governments to press for genuine national reconciliation in Burma.
The threat to the Burmese people from their own leaders is clear: In only the last few months, attacks against ethnic minorities have displaced thousands. Military units abuse their power regularly and commit egregious human rights abuses with impunity, including rape, forced labor, murder and torture. The regime's continued economic mismanagement and corruption have led to a widespread failure of the banking system and rampant inflation, which increases the daily hardships of the Burmese people. Making matters worse, the military's restrictions on U.N. and nongovernmental organizations have hampered the ability of relief organizations to deliver assistance to Burma's most vulnerable populations.
Infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and avian flu are best controlled by responsible governments with transparent public health systems that cooperate closely with international institutions. Yet even as the Burmese regime spends considerable sums to finish relocating its capital, malnutrition is rising and thousands are dying from treatable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. This tragic failure calls into question the Burmese junta's willingness and ability to protect and improve the well-being of its people.
Burma's people are not alone in facing the consequences of their government's actions: the country's deterioration poses a real danger to its neighbors and -- in today's interconnected world -- even to those far away. The drug trade and trafficking in persons are rampant; both flow across porous borders and spread corruption, political instability and disease.
America will persist in its strategy to increase international pressure on Burma by working with individual governments and regional organizations, such as the European Union, to seek to return the country to its people through a transparent, inclusive political process. The U.S. administration will continue to impose economic sanctions on the Burmese government, while insisting upon the unconditional release of Ms. Suu Kyi and other political prisoners; an end to attacks on civilians and other human rights violations; and a real dialogue leading to peace, democracy and national reconciliation.
In Asia, the U.S. will continue to collaborate with Burma's neighbors, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who have a particular interest in seeing Burma's decline reversed. Asean leaders have already publicly called for the release of political prisoners and for the resumption of a national dialogue with all political stakeholders. On June 3, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda stated that the junta [can] not deflect criticism of the Nobel peace laureate's detention by saying it was an internal matter. The truth is no country can claim that human rights abuses are its own internal affairs.
Finally, the U.S. will work in the U.N. to press for change in Burma. We are pleased that the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council will discuss Burma's forced labor practices in its July session. The U.S. will continue to pursue a U.N. Security Council resolution. As U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said, America stands with the people of Burma, and we have not forgotten their dream of democracy.
The economic, political and public health situation in Burma has deteriorated to the point where the regime's combination of repression and its unwillingness -- or inability -- to meet its own citizens' needs pose a threat to the peace, security and stability of the region. We must all act together to help the Burmese people win the freedom and prosperity they deserve.
Ms. Dobriansky is the U.S. Undersecretary of State for democracy and global affairs. In this capacity, she is responsible for directing U.S. foreign policy on a range of transnational issues, including human rights, health, humanitarian matters and democracy promotion.