[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Two Types of Welcome, Philippine Da



The Daily Yomiuri
February 23, 1998

Views From Abroad

Kyodo News

Excerpts of a selected editorial carried by an Asia-Pacific newspaper in the
latest week:

Two Types of Welcome 
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila

The leader of Burma's (Myanmar's) military junta, Gen. Than Shwe, faces two
kinds of welcome in his current visit to Manila: a correct official welcome
and a less than cordial one from human rights groups protesting the
suppression of the political opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The ambivalence stems from the fact that the Philippine government pursues a
policy of "constructive engagement" on Burma in the hope that it could nudge
the junta into relaxing its repressive rule and that Than Shwe sticks out
like a sore thumb in a democratic setting.

It is wishful thinking to believe that the general would change his outlook
and work for the relaxation of the junta's iron grip on Burma's political
life after a few days of first-hand exposure to Philippine democracy. Ever
since the Association of Southeast Asian Nations adopted its "constructive
engagement" policy, there has been no sign that the junta has become more
tolerant of the opposition National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu
Kyi, who has been under house arrest since 19X9. Neither is there a sign
that the junta will convene the national assembly, in which the opposition
won 82 percent of the seats in the 1990 general elections.

In ASEAN, human rights issues take a backseat to geopolitical
considerations. As chair of ASEAN until July, the Philippines promotes the
"constructive engagement" charade in the interest of ASEAN solidarity.

The Philippines' role as interlocutor on behalf of Burma is an unenviable
one and incompatible with its democratic political culture. Among all the
ASEAN members, the Philippines is the most democratic society whose values
on democracy clash with the silk glove approach of ASEAN to Burma.

The issue of brutal repression in Burma is a sore point in the relations
between ASEAN on the one hand, and the United States and Europe on the
other. The Western democracies are inclined to impose tough economic
sanctions on Burma to pressure the junta into political liberalization. On
the other hand, ASEAN resents the pressure, arguing that to effect change,
it is better to maintain dialogue than to confront Burma.

In this standoff, the Philippines seeks a middle ground, but it has not been
successful in moderating Southeast Asia's most brutal dictatorship. (Feb. 19)


http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm