Courting Burma

October 25, 2007
The Wall Street Journal
Original Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119326056721070342.html

Nearly a month after Burma's generals brutally suppressed peaceful democracy protests, the United Nations and much of Asia have settled back into their old routine: a lot of talk and little action. If this tack didn't work after the 1988 crackdown, why should it work now?
Burma's business partners -- the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has counted the junta among its members since 1997 -- must have short memories. On Monday, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo suggested engaging Burma and keeping it in the family. Last week the Thais proposed an Asean troika à la North Korean six-party talks, which would include India, China and the U.S.
Meanwhile, U.N. Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari has spent 11 days traveling around the region. He's pitching a softly-softly approach that includes combining incentives with strong encouragement . . . to do the right thing, whatever that means. India was so enthralled that it issued a press statement describing its close and friendly relationship with Burma.
Back in Burma, the junta has lifted an evening curfew in Rangoon, restored Internet access and released 2,459 of the 2,927 people arrested since the crackdown -- or so they say. Ordinary Burmese are afraid to protest, and the International Committee of the Red Cross is banned from visiting prisons to check up on the hundreds of detainees still under arrest. The generals' sole olive branch -- an offer to talk with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- is contingent upon her renunciation of support for foreign sanctions.
That's a clear indication that sanctions are what the generals fear. So far, however, the U.S. has been nearly alone in taking a firm stance. On Friday, President Bush announced an asset freeze for 11 Burmese government officials and several prominent business tycoons, including timber and airline magnate Tay Za. That's in addition to an existing asset freeze on 14 government leaders and a visa ban on 260 Burmese officials and their relatives. These may sound like small numbers, but there are only a few people running the country.
Still, U.S. actions alone only scratch the surface. Almost all of Burma's trade is with its neighbors, particularly Thailand, China, India and Singapore. Until these countries take a firmer stand, there's little the rest of the world can do.