Saffron Rebellion

September 26, 2007
The Wall Street Journal
Original Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119075361203939045.html

For profiles in courage, consider the inspiring demonstrations in Burma. On Monday, tens of thousands of Burmese marched in protest against a military regime that killed some 3,000 Burmese the last time this happened, in 1988. The U.S. is trying to rally international support for their cause, but the U.N. and most Asian nations are once again missing in action.
For 5 1/2 weeks, protests have grown in Burma after the regime's unexpected fuel price hike last month. The junta's usual tactics -- jailing democracy advocates and beating up some monks -- haven't deterred the marchers. Yesterday, when vehicles circled central Rangoon mounted with loudspeakers, threatening action against anyone who follows, encourages, or participates in protests, 10,000 monks showed up and chanted democracy, democracy.
The marchers have stuck to peaceful protest. And the participation of the monks bolsters the movement's credibility and insulates citizens -- at least, for now -- from attack. Most Burmese are deeply religious. If the generals attack the saffron robes, they'll risk a larger political upheaval.
But that's exactly what Senior General Than Shwe has shown he will do in the interests of self-preservation. Burma is one of Asia's poorest countries, with a per capita income of around $200. Once Asia's bread basket, the country now struggles to feed itself. Meanwhile, officials of the 45-year-old regime led by the Senior General live in relative luxury. Given the broad support in the last national election for Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party, the generals wouldn't have a chance if real elections were held. Ms. Suu Kyi continues to be held under house arrest.
So it was welcome news to see U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley speak up on Monday. Our hope is to marry that internal pressure with the external pressure coming from the United States and the United Nations and really all countries that are committed to freedom to try to force the regime into a change, he said. At the U.N. yesterday, President Bush announced new American sanctions against the regime and urged other countries to support Burmese democracy.
Good luck with that. For decades, the U.N. has done little more than send emissaries to Burma to chat politely with the generals. True to form, U.N. Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari said earlier this month that the crackdown made it more difficult to maintain international support for engagement. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, also kept conspicuously silent until Mr. Hadley gave them some political cover yesterday. Even then, the calls for change were weak, with most Asean members expressing concern. India has remained mum.
The junta's best friend is China, which provides the generals with trade and weapons. In return, Beijing gets first dibs on Burma's natural resources, and dominates business in its poorer Western provinces. In January, China vetoed a U.S.-led resolution on Burma in the U.N. Security Council. Yesterday, a Communist Party official confirmed that Beijing advocates noninterference in other nations' affairs. If the Burmese generals do crack down on these peaceful protests, their international protectors will bear some of the responsibility.