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A question of values (Australia).
A question of values
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ASEAN has rolled out the red carpet for Burma. Its offer of full
membership comes at a time when Western democracies are shutting the door
in Burma's face. The two extremes encapsulate the dilemma faced by
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, who met
his Burmese counterpart, Mr Ohn Gyaw, in Jakarta yesterday.
Mr Downer has the example of the seven Association of South-EAst
Asia Nations members who have opted for what they term constructive
engagement as the best way of getting on with a neighbor while at the
same time persuading it to ment its ways. This amounts to a virtual
blind-eye approach to Burma's internal affairs. The opposite view, shared
by the United States and the European Union, is that the Rangoon generals
are unlikely to change one of the world's more repressive regimes while
they receive the foreign investment and recognition needed to underpin
their legitimacy. A number of European companies have announced the
withdrawal of trade and investment. This view is shared by the Burmese
democratic leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who won a democratic election six
years ago but has been a virtual prisoner of the military junta ever
since. ASEAN's rejection of Ms Suu Kyi's call for international pressure
has been interpreted by the generals, not surprisingly, as endorsement of
their rule.
Australia, as a Western democracy geographically and politically
entwined with South-East Asia, has a more diffult choice. Mr Downer does
not need to be reminded that, although Australia and its neighbors are
growing increasingly economically interdependent, our political values
remain those of the West. There may be some merit in the ASEAN philosophy
of insulating the internal affairs of a neighboring state from the
dictates of political or economic self-interest. But our Western beliefs
insist that, in the final analysis, we do have an obligation to uphold
democratic values in circumstance where this can have a positive effect.
That is why we imposed sanctions on South Africa and Serbia in the name
of human rights.
Mr Downer has intimated that he will continue to press Burma
about its refusal to negotiate with Ms Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy and about the recent death in custody of her confidant, Mr Leo
Nichols. He will also offer the regime the option of linking Australian
recognition and trade to evidence of increased civil rights. This
"benchmarking policy" is a delicate balancing act that, while denying the
red carpet, does not shut the door on Burma. It is also a diplomatically
risky course but, provided that Australia remains true to its democratic
values, one that is worth the attempt.
[The Age, Editorial, 23 July 1996].
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