human right discussion on burma

hope this entry would be published…

            I just have finished reading a Burmese scoop and it made me draw in, while Burma nationals were deprive of their right basically in organizing a protest, us Filipinos were vested so must right that we didn’t  notice we’re the one who’s abusing it.

Burma as we all know, it is the largest country geographically speaking in the Southeast Asia under a brutal military regime of Senior General Than Shwe. The country was known cause of military junta that is world-class human rights abuser condemned by the UN every year since 1989.

Many more people were killed and detained in the violent government crackdown on monks and other peaceful protestors in September 2007 than the Burmese government has admitted. As stated in Burmese scoop of international news by press release Terry Evans (January 23, 2008, Wednesday), six labour rights activists have been handed down long prison sentences for their part in organizing labour rights discussions at the American Centre in Rangoon last May Day. Four of them were sentenced by Burmese authorities to prison term of 28 years and the other two received sentence of 20 years each. This is just one of many cases of abusive treatment of their government with their people.

Their foreign relation to other country was also affected by this kind of ruling. They have withdraw their partnership with some of the US and European companies because those countries were applying their foreign policy like the U.S. policy of imposing unilateral trade and investment sanctions against Burma though it has proven to be a failure that policy has harmed American economic interests and done nothing to improve the living conditions or human rights of the people of Burma. But as one of Burma’s biggest trading partners and closest diplomatic allies, China rejected the request of United States to step-up pressure on it. Hopefully because Burma is a member of ASEAN, other Southeast Asian nations were still willing to invest in the country.

But which of the two diplomatic strategies would resolve the problem concerning human rights in Burma? Being an ally and provide a constructive assistance or a challenger that impose sanctions?

            I believe that the military government of Burma should address this matter focusing human rights of its nationals. They should be the one who advocate for peace in their own country instead of being cruel to its people. Definitely, military form of government would not help to resolve the problem with its people so as to its economy as well.

~ by jovay on January 23, 2008.