Expert questions approach to regime

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South China Morning Post
Monday  September 15  1997

Burma 
Expert questions approach to regime 

ANALYSIS WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok 
Whenever Western nations hold a party these days, "except Burma" is almost 
invariably written on the invitations.
This makes the hosts feel better about their "moral" foreign policy, but is it 
the right one?
One of Britain's leading experts on Burma, Martin Smith, argues that the haste 
to fence off a military regime may be understandable, but is based on a 
fundamental misunderstanding.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook raised the hair-trigger hackles of 
Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, this month by stressing that 
Burma - which became an eager member of the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN) in July - would not be on the guest list for the annual 
Asia-Europe Meeting next year.
Mr Cook said the Burmese junta's unbending hostility ruled out any chance the 
European Union might lift its visa ban in time for the summit.
He made it clear this was fine by the new British Government when he also 
accused the regime of "conniving" with drug barons.
"The failure of the regime in Burma to address this issue, indeed their 
apparent willingness to abet and profit from the drugs trade, deserves the 
strongest condemnation," he said.
Proof indeed that 35 years after the military seized power, the West has 
finally discovered that Burma has become a useful whipping boy for governments 
trying to pursue an "ethical" foreign policy - such as Britain's New Labour. 
But is this going to change the nature of Burma's widely reviled regime?
"Not really, no. The world has woken up to the tragedy of Burma rather late. 
But how do you deal with a country which is so isolated by isolating it more?" 
asked Mr Smith.
"I think this is something European and American governments haven't quite 
understood. You can condemn a government, but if you want governments to 
change you've got to talk."
The junta's opponents in the West will argue that talking has not worked. For 
example, within days of joining ASEAN, it engaged in another bloody campaign 
against a rebel minority.
Nevertheless, there has been "too much megaphone diplomacy", said Mr Smith.
"Burma is so isolated . . . It's become its own world, with its own values and 
judgments. Often it doesn't realise that in the rest of the world things 
aren't done like this any more."
Malaysia's ASEAN partners have made it clear there is no chance of them 
boycotting the Asia-Europe summit.
Mr Smith said ASEAN's arguments that dealing with Burma would help loosen it 
up were "rational", but probably not enough.
"Nobody really has the answer. I suspect you need a bit of both [carrot and 
stick]," he said. "What I am pretty sure of is that simply slamming the door 
on Burma won't do much good . . . After all, that is how the generals in 
Rangoon expect foreigners to behave."