Quadriga
Burma's Ruthless Regime - When Will the World Take Action?
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Burma's Ruthless Regime - When Will the World Take Action?
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The world's worst natural disaster since the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami has struck Burma, a country ruled by a despotic military regime. Cyclone Nargis devastated the Irrawaddy delta, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving many millions of others are without food or shelter. The victims are urgently in need of as much help as possible. No developing country can cope with a catastrophe of such proportions on its own. But Burmese junta's mistrust of the West is making it difficult for any outside help to arrive.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: International aid organizations mobilized swiftly – but in many cases they have not got past the Burmese border. The military regime is sticking stubbornly to the principle: relief goods, yes; foreign aid workers, no. Aid teams from around the world are waiting for permission to enter the country. The United Nations has criticized the junta's decision to block access as unprecedented in the history of humanitarian work. But Burma's generals apparently do not want foreign witnesses - who could perhaps help the world to learn more about reports of forced labor, massacres, bizarre forms of torture, corruption and extreme poverty.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The USA, France, and Germany want to force Burma to accept aid if necessary. But the government has threatened to shoot down unauthorized aid planes. It remains to be seen for how long the generals will be able to look on without taking action as their people die. There are already reports of looting and violent disturbances. A humanitarian crisis could also turn into a political crisis.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Burma's population has been subject to the arbitrary rule of the country's generals for more than 45 years. Twice there have been major uprisings. In 1988, faced by rapidly rising food prices, there was a student-led revolt during which many of the general population took to the streets. Then last year, in August 2007, during what became known as the Safran revolution, Burma's monks rose up and protested against the military regime. The generals did not deviate from their traditional hard line. When the protest over affordable food and cheap gasoline turned into a mass movement against the ruling military, they sent troops on to the streets. Then, as today, the international community was unable to persuade the military regime to act with moderation. A N Security Council resolution calling for sanctions was vetoed by China.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: How long Burma's government can continue to obstruct western aid during this latest crisis also depends largely on China. So far, Beijing is protecting the generals. That's hardly surprising as China has now become Burma's most important trading partner and Beijing also advises the military government in Rangoon. It is just conceivable that, in the run up to the summer Olympics in Beijing China wants to polish its image and will be prepared to exert pressure on the generals in Rangoon.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: China seems unlikely to take action jointly with the United Nations, and a UN resolution also looks unlikely. All too often with security council deliberations, human rights concerns take a back seat to principles of state sovereignty. Western leaders, in particular, are sensitive to
accusations of interfering in the internal affairs of other states. In Burma's case, that may mean having to look on as the population is once again victimized by the military regime's hold on power.
What do you think: Burma's Ruthless Regime -- When Will the World Take Action?
Write to us at Quadriga@dw-world.de
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Our guests were:
Bildunterschrift: Andrew B. Denison is a political scientist from the United States. He studied both there and in Germany, and is an expert in foreign policy and security issues. He works for the Institute for Strategic Analysis in Bonn, as a researcher and author, and is director of "Transatlantic
Networks", a research consortium based in Königswinter, Germany.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Hao Gui – A Chinese journalist, born in the city of Nanjing. He grew up in China, but studied journalism in Dortmund, Germany. After his studies, Gui took an internship with the western German public broadcaster WDR. Hao Gui has published several books. Since 2003, he’s worked on DW-RADIO’s Asia desk. Gui focuses on business and politics in East Asia, as well as culture and media issues.
Bildunterschrift: Jasmin Lorch – A political scientist currently working on her PhD at the Albrecht Ludwigs University in Freiburg. She is also a guest researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Lorch has written several articles on civil society and humanitarian aid in Burma. She undertook several research trips to Burma between 20004 and 2007. She also works on issues involving Bangladesh and the Philippines. Collapse of statehood, civil society, democratization and development policies are further interests.
