SMH-Canberra defends Rangoon missio

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Subject: SMH-Canberra defends Rangoon mission  

Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday, August 5, 1999

BURMA
Canberra defends Rangoon mission

By CRAIG SKEHAN, Herald Correspondent in Bangkok

The Australian Government defended yesterday the visit to Burma of its Human
Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, amid claims that the military regime
in Rangoon was using it for propaganda.

Democracy campaigners fear that direct dialogue with Burma could undermine
international pressure on the junta to restore democracy.

"Our initial reports are that Mr Sidoti's visit went well and that it was
very useful," a spokesman for the Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, said.

Mr Sidoti spent three days in Rangoon at Mr Downer's request, to try to
advance the minister's proposal for a human rights commission in Burma.

The leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), Ms Aung
San Suu Kyi, has said she does not believe any such body would be truly
independent or effective.

Sources said the initial plan had been for Mr Sidoti's visit to be low-key,
but Mr Downer's public announcement of it last week ensured wide coverage.

Mr Sidoti met senior figures in the junta, as well as United Nations
representatives and the deputy leader of the NLD.

He is due to give an assessment of the mission at a media conference in
Sydney today.

A spokesman for the Burmese regime said Mr Sidoti's visit enhanced
co-operation between Canberra and Rangoon on human rights issues.

But Ms Debbie Stothart, an Australian who works with the Bangkok-based
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma, said the military was the biggest
violator of human rights.

"They could stop rounding up democracy activists," Ms Stothart said. "Talk
about a human rights commission is like suggesting a mission to the Moon
when you can't get the local buses to run."

She said an internationally co-ordinated approach was needed to press the
junta into meaningful negotiations.

"Mr Downer should not fool himself that he can make a difference where the
United Nations can't," she said.