Asia Times: Australia tests new approach to Burma junta



	August 10, 1999	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Australia tests new approach to Burma junta
By Ron Corben

BANGKOK - Australia is the latest country to try to find a breakthrough to improve human rights in Burma, this time by discussing ''human rights training'' for the country's public officials.

This represents a new approach by Australia to Burma, which has traditionally been wary of foreign governments, especially Western ones, preaching to it.

Diplomats and Burmese human rights groups have given only cautious approval to the Australian proposals, announced last week by Australia's human rights commissioner, Chris Sidoti. They were guarded in their comments, fearing Australia's move may be used by the military junta as propaganda.

Sidoti announced details of the plans Thursday, after a four-day visit to Rangoon where he held talks with senior government officials as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's deputy, Tin Hlaing. ''The government of Myanmar [Burma] is interested in exploring possible exchange and cooperation for human rights training for government officials and the police,'' he told a Sydney press conference. ''It is action, rather than words, that will prove or disprove the value of this project.''

Burma's junta, or the State Peace and Development Council, which marked its 11th anniversary on Sunday, also announced the decision soon after Sidoti had completed his visit to Rangoon. In an official statement, the military government described the talks as ''frank, cordial and fruitful'', resulting in ''better understanding and cooperation in the field of human rights''.

Also discussed with the junta was Australia's proposal for a human rights commission, initially raised by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer a year ago. He again raised the issue with his Burmese counterpart, Win Aung, at the July ministerial meeting in Singapore of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Rangoon was admitted as an Asean member two years ago.

The London-based Burma Campaign director, Yvette Mahon, said the main risk was the possibility of the Burmese junta ''setting up the commission to sop the critics with another propaganda tool''. ''If its an independent commission and has the sanction of the NLD [Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy] we wouldn't object.''

But she doubted the commission would have independence: ''I would be extremely surprised if any commission would be independent and have a free reign. My concern is that it might be pure propaganda on the part of the regime. I'd be very cynical about it. We would have to see what the NLD says before we welcomed it.''

A senior Bangkok-based Burmese refugee aid worker, who asked not to be identified, said that given the scale of human rights abuses in Burma ''it seems impossible'' for the proposals to succeed. ''When have abuses every day, what does [having an independent commission] mean?'' he asked. Nevertheless, ''after months of political stalemate perhaps something can come of it. It is a good thing, at least there is some discussion''.

On the other hand, a Bangkok-based diplomat with responsibilities covering Burma asked: ''How can a low-level training course for Burmese police be exploited by the regime?''

Sidoti's visit came after a similar low-key visit to Rangoon by a European Union delegation in July. As such visits continue however, some international campaigners for reforms in Burma say the time has come for a discussion of ''new strategies'', given the lack of progress in political dialogue between the junta and the NLD.

''We have seen very little success so far,'' conceded Helle Degn, a Danish member of parliament who is co-chair of the Norway-based International Network of Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma. ''There has absolutely been no contact, no dialogue between the regime and the opposition,'' she said at a press conference Friday in the Philippine capital of Manila.

''We've got to find some or another way of dialogue out of the present solution,'' Degn said, adding that the network will be discussing how to step up lobbying efforts along with Burmese exiles and campaigners at a meeting in Bangkok on August 13.

She also said Asean must do more to try to push the junta toward political dialogue, because Burma is turning out to be a the ''weak link'' in the organization. ''Regional stability depends on all links in this chain. I think it will affect the whole region if there is a negative outcome in the change of political stability in Burma and it would harm the whole of Asean.''

(Inter Press Service)

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