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SCMP-Britons' protests 'political t (r)
- Subject: SCMP-Britons' protests 'political t (r)
- From: bina@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 17:04:00
Subject: Re: SCMP-Britons' protests 'political tourism'
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It is interesting to see the "diplomats" complaining about
amateurs like Mawdsley and Goldwyn. But in fact the diplomats have
37 years of failure to influence the military regime in Burma.<br>
<br>
Britain is a particularly blatant case. While Tony Blair's
government continues to pay lip-service to democracy in Burma, Britain is
the largest (or second largest?) investor of private funds in Burma, with
regards to number of companies involved. <br>
<br>
There is even a British government organization to facilitate companies
wishing to do business with the junta. <br>
<br>
What Mawdsley and Goldwyn have done, and what the diplomats and
bureaucrats and even the well-intentioned NGO's have failed do, is to put
an emotional impact into the rhetoric about the tyranny in Burma.
<br>
<br>
When a young British boy and girl are being imprisoned and perhaps
tortured for what every Briton regards as normal and correct (or at least
legal) social behavior, the average citizen is going to feel personally
affected. This personal involvement of the people (almost
exclusively, sad to say) is what causes democratic governments to
respond.<br>
<br>
Many politicians regard these people's feelings and reactions on the part
of the populace as "meddling" in their private business.
This is unfortunate. Mawdsley and Goldwyn are most certainly heros,
heros of the ordinary people's hearts and minds, and the world
wants and needs more heros. <br>
<br>
More bureaucrats, however, are not the solution.<br>
<br>
<br>
At 12:09 AM 9/23/99 +0900, TIN KYI wrote: <br>
<blockquote type=cite cite> <br>
<font face="helvetica">South China Morning Post</font><br>
Wednesday, September 22, 1999<br>
<font face="helvetica" size=2 color="#003300"><b>THE MEKONG
REGION</font></b><font size=1> <br>
<br>
</font><font size=5><b><div align="center">
Britons' protests 'political tourism'</b> </font><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<font size=2><b>Jailed protesters: </b>James Mawdsley and Rachel
Goldwyn.</font><font size=1> <br>
<br>
</font><font face="helvetica" size=2><b></div>
BURMA by WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok</font></b><font size=1> <br>
</font>Two young Britons' attempts to highlight repression in Burma by
daring acts of open defiance have been described as naive, silly,
dangerous and even boring by some diplomats in the region. <br>
<br>
The most barbed critic described their protests as "political
tourism" that deflected attention from the oppression of ordinary
Burmese. <br>
<br>
The bold in-country protests may also have split critics of the regime
who appear divided over the merits of such moves. <br>
<br>
Rachel Goldwyn, 28, was sentenced by a Burmese court last week to seven
years of "rigorous imprisonment" after chaining herself to a
lamppost and singing a protest song in the capital. <br>
<br>
James Mawdsley, 26, with dual British-Australian nationality, was given
17 years last month for posting democracy leaflets up in a northern
border town. <br>
<br>
His sentence was stiffer because he had been jailed twice before for
similar stunts. <br>
<br>
Even sympathetic envoys said such acts could put Western governments in
the awkward position of having to ask the regime for "favours"
- reducing their potential leverage over "real" issues. <br>
<br>
Other critics of the regime, including members of the Burmese opposition,
praised the British pair's ideals. <br>
<br>
But many did not warm to the idea that Goldwyn and Mawdsley may have set
a fashion for risky in-country protests. <br>
<br>
"It's become a soap opera," John Jackson, of the Burma Action
Group in Britain, said. "The stories shouldn't be about Rachel and
James," he told London's Sunday Times. <br>
<br>
The real focus of international outrage should be the 500 Burmese who
have been arrested in recent weeks, he said. <br>
<br>
Amanda Zappia, of the Australia Burma Council, said the danger was
"most certainly" that diplomatic energy would be used up trying
to get Western protesters released at the expense of other initiatives.
<br>
<br>
"For example, it is common for diplomats to have joint actions in
response to renewed repression or violent acts, which have evoked
international attention. <br>
<br>
"Diplomats could be very cautious about attacking the military for
fear this could foil attempts to have their nationals released," she
said. <br>
<br>
Ms Zappia hoped that no opposition group had encouraged the duo to go in.
<br>
<br>
A veteran Washington-based American activist said Goldwyn and Mawdsley's
protests were useful. <br>
<br>
He complained that although "the same murderous thugs" were in
power as in 1962, 1975 and 1988 - times of violently repressed protests -
"the news media have the attention span of a three-year-old on
speed". <br>
<br>
The activist argued that such selfless moves helped puncture the
complacency of privileged Westerners where other critics - worn down by
years of apathy - could not achieve this. <br>
<br>
"That they risk - or sacrifice - what is so important has an impact
on others for whom privilege and freedom are taken for granted."
<br>
<br>
He added: "Indians who non-violently lined up to be beaten down by
British colonial troops in Gandhi's salt march" two generations ago
similarly brought attention to problems in the darker edges of the
world's conscience. <br>
<br>
Buddhist monks in Vietnam who would immolate themselves to protest
against events in their country a generation ago also focused world
attention on what the world would rather ignore, he said. <br>
<br>
Both Goldwyn and Mawdsley have said they were inspired to act after
stints teaching in refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border, where they
learnt first hand of the sufferings of ordinary Burmese. <br>
<br>
Observers say Mawdsley must have expected a stiff sentence after being
released with sharp warnings previously. <br>
<br>
Goldwyn is reported to have been visibly shocked at her sentence. She may
have anticipated being as quickly ejected as the 18 Western and Asian
activists who got received five-year sentences for handing out
pro-democracy cards around Rangoon year ago, and were deported. <br>
<br>
The increasingly harsh sentences being handed out - for what in most
countries would be quite innocuous behaviour - were revealing, said
several observers. <br>
<br>
"What's next, jailing a tourist for carrying a Far Eastern Economic
Review? Arresting someone for humming We Shall Overcome as they bike
between temples in Pagan?" asked Seattle-based activist Larry Dohrs.
<br>
<br>
One US-based campaigner had this warning for others wishing to emulate
Goldwyn and Mawdsley: "Anyone going into Burma for this should be
aware that it is a sacrifice that may last for years and that their
families and friends will suffer as well. Without, I should add, a choice
in whether or not to make the sacrifice." <br>
<br>
<br>
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