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OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM MYANMAR EMBA



Subject: OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM MYANMAR EMBASSY, WASHINGTON D.C.

OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM MYANMAR EMBASSY, WASHINGTON D.C.
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THE FOLLOWING IS THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE 
"Boston's Stand on Human Rights", by Fred Hiatt,
 THE WASHINGTON POST (25-8-97)

(http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-08/25/034l-082597-idx.htm
l)


Date: August 26, 1997
Sir,
Re: Boston's Stand on Human Rights, by Fred Hiatt (August 25, 1997)

The attempt by Massachusetts to restrict business ties with Myanmar is an
ill-considered move. The United States is a large and diverse country with
global responsibilities. It does not take a fertile imagination to consider
what would happen if local governments are allowed to carry parochial
concerns to the international stage. The failure of the US to speak with one
voice and live up to international agreements can have disastrous
repercussions. Obviously, state and local governments are not appropriate
bodies for foreign policy making.

While the measure taken by Massachusetts may succeed in pressing a few US
business entities to withdraw from Myanmar so as to be eligible for business
in the state, such action will only undermine efforts at the federal level to
promote US business globally. 

What is the international community to make of a super-power that signs an
agreement only to have local governments challenge it at the urging of
activists such as Simon Billenness who in their clamor for human rights
forget that their actions will end up depriving a nation of its right to
development? In the circumstance, it is not surprising that the European
Union and Japan are seeking to redress the situation by demanding a three
judge panel to hear the case in accordance with WTO procedures.

Fred Hiatt recycles propaganda in referring to the Myanmar government as
"narco-thug junta of military bullies". It is one thing to perceive the
situation in Myanmar as a "good" versus "evil" situation ripe for
indignation, but it is quite another to denigrate the leaders of a nation.

The problem of narcotic drugs is a problem that transcends borders and is one
that can be solved only with the cooperation of both the drug-producing
countries and drug-consuming countries. While the US accuses Myanmar of being
the biggest producer of opium in the world, it has not lifted a finger to
help Myanmar overcome the menace posed by drugs. In fact, since 1988, the US
has suspended all assistance to Myanmar, notwithstanding Myanmar's
willingness to cooperate with the US in ascertaining the yield of opium in
remote areas.

Tying counter-narcotics assistance to human rights performance will not end
the problem.

The government of Myanmar has been waging a relentless war against drug
traffickers. Thousands of Myanmar soldiers have sacrificed life and limb in
combatting the scourge of narcotic drugs. 

Since the advent of the current government, thousands of kilos of opium,
heroin, morphine, opium oil, liquid opium, marijuana, and precursor chemicals
have been destroyed in public on 11 occasions, witnessed by representatives
of international organizations and the diplomatic corps.

The Myanmar government's sole interest is to lead the country to a stable and
prosperous future.

Yours etc.

Thaung Tun
Minister-Counsellor,
Deputy Chief of Mission


The Editor
Washington Post
Washington, D.C.

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