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Letter to the Editors re. Burma (fw
Subject: Letter to the Editors re. Burma (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 17:15:50 -0700 (PDT)
To: letters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: bjp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, draeger@xxxxxxxx, bbeck@xxxxxx
Subject: Letter to the Editors re. Burma
Editors of the OC Register:
In your July 10 Editorial, "Bright Light in Burma," you argue against
trade sanctions against SLORC, the military regime currently in power in
Burma.
During a 1993 visit to Thailand with six other Nobel Laureates to call
for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of
Burma who was imprisoned by SLORC, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said,
"International pressure can change the situation in Burma. Tough
sanctions, not 'conservative engagement', finally brought the release of
Nelson Mandela and the dawn of a new era in my country. This is the
language that must be spoken with tyrants, for sadly, this is the only
language they understand."
Speaking of U.S. investors such as Pepsico and UNOCAL, Suu Kyi herself said,
"These people are hurrying to make cosy business deals while pretending
that nothing is wrong. They need to be reminded that this is one of the
most brutal military regimes in the world and putting money into the
country now is simply supporting a system that is severly harmful to the
people of Burma."
Those are the words of the popularly elected leader of Burma. But, of
course, the editors of the Orange County Register, not the Burmese
themselves, know what is best for Burma.
The editorial also makes the utterly false claim that "free trade with
the old Soviet bloc brought in refreshing gusts of democracy and free
markets." The editors, perhaps, were unaware that President Boris
Yeltsin commanded almost total control of the Russian mass-media. Maybe
they didn't read the LA Times article (July 9--"Americans Tell of Role in
Yeltsin Win") which documented the subversive actions of American
political strategists and businessmen which helped to undermine the
Russians' right to self-determination.
Gusts of democracy indeed. What utter propaganda.
Returning to Burma, the editors state that "Sanctions only harm businesses
and middle-class citizens, destroying the livelihoods and international
contacts of the very people needing the private resources to build
democracy and freedom."
Why isn't anyone asking the Burmese people what they want? Why do the
editors claim to know what is best for them? Maybe they haven't heard
reports (broadcast on Pacifica Radio, for instance) from the actual
members of the popular government exiled by SLORC. They have made it
clear that economic sanctions only hurt SLORC, not the people of Burma,
since the vast majority of Burmese have no contact, either as consumers
or workers, with firms like UNOCAL. Except when they are removed from
their villages and forced to work on UNOCAL's natural gas pipeline.
Money from investments such as UNOCAL's goes directly into the SLORC
army, which, as the editors are aware of, is guilty of numerous instances
of arrest, torture, and killing of dissidents. SLORC stands to make an
estimated $10 million with its deal with UNOCAL. Villages are being
destroyed along the pipeline's construction site, and the inhabitants are
being forced against their will to work on the pipeline. The world needs
to know this, and this is why I am writing this letter.
But of course, the editors of the Orange County Register know what is
best for Burma.
Justin Beck
Irvine
E-mail: justin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx