Burma, Democracy and corruption

Many of us around the world find the actions of courageous non-violent Burmese people inspiring and impressive. We hope they will not be detained, tortured or killed by the military junta that rules Myanmar. We complete petitions and write to our politicians urging that something be done to end this tragedy. We do not know what will actually make a difference, as sanctions and boycotts have had no effect, except that these usually lead to suffering for the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Clicking below will add your name to this petition to Chinese Premier Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council: "We stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators, and to support genuine reconciliation and democracy in Burma. We pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed." http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/f.php?cl=20213140&signup=1

Click Here to Sign Now!

Some of us are astonished (not really) when we hear the champions of Democracy like US President, George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister, John Howard expressing their concern for the Burmese people. Why do they consistently undermine democracy in their own countries and support the undermining of democracy in other countries? Why do these leaders invade other sovereign states, plot covert assassinations of political leaders and coup d'états?

The Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer’s statement on Burma: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/25/2042309.htm

In part, Mr Downer said”, I think there's a risk that they [the military Government] will move against the leaders," he told the program from the sidelines of a UN conference on climate change in New York. "They'll arrest the leaders and subject them to very harsh treatment. That would be my concern. "I think it's unlikely that they will, you know, send the tanks into the streets, that sort of response. But we'll have to wait and see."

Mr Downer said he was "very concerned" about the situation in the country. But this same man supports the suppression of other peoples around the world where it suits Australian foreign policy, which is routinely conducted in secret.

In fact the leading ‘Democracies’ are quite comfortable dealing with military juntas and puppet dictatorships and regularly support their repressive policies with supplies of weapons, equipment and training. The French oil company TOTAL is a major investor in Myanmar and its payments to the regime underpin the repression of the Burmese. Britain is a major investor, possibly the second biggest, and supplies armoured vehicles and other military equipment to the junta. But lets not forget that China is the junta’s most powerful friend – and unlikely to lift a finger to save a single life.

Transparency International has this to say:

“Transparency International Chairwoman Huguette Labelle, in a speech presenting the Berlin-based organization's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which found Myanmar (Burma) and Somalia to be the most corrupt nations. Transparency International said many countries ranked among the cleanest are facilitating bribery and plunder in the impoverished nations at the bottom of the list”.

"The junta which runs Myanmar is clearly one which is able to do very secret deals with international companies, and particularly in illegal logging,'' Laurence Cockcroft, a director for Transparency in the U.K., said in an interview with Bloomberg news agency.

If citizens of Australia think they should boycott the loathsome military regime in Myanmar they should be aware that the Howard government is quietly making this kind of citizen activity illegal:

Govt looks at fines for boycott campaigns, protests

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/20/2038707.htm?section=justin

So, the first lesson for democracy and human rights is that we must be consistent. Tibet? Palestine? Many more struggles lie ahead.

The same arguments being advanced today in support of democracy could have been advanced in relation to the protests against the APEC Conference, the presence of known war criminals and the futile outcomes of this denial of free speech.

Find more images in this series here:

http://burmastrugglefordemocracy.blogspot.com/

How to guarantee some populist violence at a peaceful Anti-APEC protest

The Pinochet Solution will not save the discredited Howard government, nor will it particularly help 'bridesmaid' a change to Labor's Kevin Rudd. There should be a full independent inquiry into the NSW government's handling of the anti-APEC protests, A$170 nmillion they spent and the instructions officers were given as their paramilitary 'Rules of Engagement". See this photo-video from the Sydney Morning Herald Photos: protest right

It is not very often that I find it necessary to quote from commercial television, but we all deserve to view this footage that shows what police brutality means in New South Wales, when our present Prime Minister wants to impress world leaders:
http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?g=347cf87c-50ab-47a3-a0be-da23de81841c&f=39&fg=email
I would call this video "NSW Police demonstrate the Pinochet solution"

There is plenty of evidence that shows that at least 200 police officers removed their name tags. They could only have been directed to do this by their officers, who would take their orders from NSW Premier, Morris Iemma and from the Prime Minister's Office.

Let us not easily forget what Premier Iemma said on ABC TV:
QUENTIN DEMPSTER: Under Ken Moroney's performance contract policing seems to have been turned into what's known as authoritarian populism. The police - a force for retribution and revenge for the community's fear, distress and anger.

This was best illustrated by Premier Iemma's advice to recruits at Ken Moroney's final parade at the Goulburn Academy.

MORRIS IEMMA: Be as tough on the criminals as they are on us. Give them the same consideration as they give our kids when they deal them drugs, when they assault and rob a senior citizen, when they rape someone's daughter, when they deface a war memorial. In other words, be faithful to the police motto "let punishment swiftly follow crime".
http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s2021285.htm

Expect full force of law: Iemma
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22348896-5001021,00.html

When it comes to getting tough on demonstrators no one in power wants to be left out. John Howard had enough to say ... and aspiring Prime Minister in waiting Kevin Rudd had to put his impramata on the expected 'biff':

Rudd backs APEC crackdown http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/03/2022379.htm