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EDITORIAL: THE SLORC'S CHOICE IN MY
- Subject: EDITORIAL: THE SLORC'S CHOICE IN MY
- From: tun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 16:09:00
Subject: EDITORIAL: THE SLORC'S CHOICE IN MYANMAR
(ll)
c.1994 N.Y. Times News Service
The New York Times said in an editorial on Monday, Nov. 14:
Myanmar's ruling junta, the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, or SLORC, is one of the world's most brutal, least
legitimate regimes.
It seized power in what used to be known as Burma by massacring
democracy demonstrators in the streets of Rangoon six years ago.
Since then it has ignored elections, cooperated with drug lords and
waged a relentless war against democratic political leaders,
university students, Buddhist religious activists and the ethnic
minorities who make up more than a third of Myanmar's population.
This grim dictatorship is now being courted by countries eager
for new economic opportunities in the world's hottest boom region.
These include many of Myanmar's Southeast Asian neighbors and much
of the European Union.
To the east, Thailand makes refugees fleeing the SLORC's
repression feel unwelcome. To the north, China provides military
aid, consumer goods and diplomatic support. The United States
stands almost alone in principled opposition to the SLORC, denying
it anti-narcotics aid and development assistance, blocking loans
from international banks and criticizing it in international
forums.
But these steps have had only a limited effect. So this month
the Clinton administration dispatched a diplomatic emissary to
offer the SLORC a choice. It can soften its tyranny and enjoy
better relations with the United States or it can continue its
thuggish ways and have Washington step up the pressure. The SLORC
is still weighing its response.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Hubbard asked the
SLORC's strongman, Gen. Khin Nyunt, to respect internationally
recognized human rights, admit U.N. and Red Cross observers, end
forced labor, fight drug trafficking, devise credible, democratic
procedures for a return to constitutional rule and free,
unconditionally, the democratic opposition leader and Nobel
laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as other political prisoners.
Progress on these points could lead to warmer relations, eased
sanctions and renewed cooperation against drugs. No progress would
lead Washington to broaden U.S. sanctions and push for an
international arms embargo. Some of Hubbard's points resemble the
human rights conditions the United States earlier tried to apply to
China, then dropped. This time the administration appears more
united and serious. That leaves the next step up to the SLORC.
<TDAT> NYT-11-13-94 1818EST