Madam, – I applaud your insightful and timely Editorial (“Aung San Suu Kyi”, May 16th). For 47 long years Burma has been ruthlessly governed by a military dictatorship, patently devoid of any shred of decency or humanity. The corrupt and self-serving generals have shown that they will do anything to hold on to power and privilege. To this end they have murdered, tortured, pillaged and imprisoned thousands, as they enriched themselves, at the expense of their impoverished people. They have remained impervious to the widespread international censure engendered by their cruel and callous rule.
The injustice they have meted out to Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy political party is an insult to every principle of democracy and fair play.
Now they have trumped up a totally spurious and unwarranted criminal charge against this brave freeman of Dublin and Galway. One has to hope that this preposterous and outrageous indictment will turn out to be “a bridge too far”.
It is way past time that the international community stopped pussyfooting with this despicable regime and set about treating them as the outlaws which they undoubtedly are.
Envoy after envoy of the United Nations has been treated with unseemly disrespect, by which we are all diminished. The measured language of diplomacy is clearly wasted on thugs, which is what the self-appointed generals of Burma have proved themselves to be.
Time now for international bodies such as the UN, EU and also Asean, to develop new strategies and to be more determined and assertive, if this recalcitrant Burmese regime is ever to be brought to heel.
Bold initiatives are called for, among which might be strengthened, more effective, and more comprehensive sanction, but first it would seem right and proper for UN Secretary General Ban Kyi Moon, to stop dithering and go himself to Burma to hold direct talks with the generals.
They should be left in no doubt that their contemptuous disregard for human rights and civilised norms is totally unacceptable to the world community of nations. And while he is in that region a diplomatic visit to Beijing would also seem to be called for, as it is common knowledge that the Chinese government wields undue influence over the Burmese regime, being their main trading partner and source of revenue.
A watching world cannot go on ignoring the long drawn out agony of the tormented people of Burma. We must respond to that poignant plea of Aung San Suu Kyi, “I hope that the world will not forget us”.
All avenues must be explored if we are to keep faith with that courageous lady. - Yours, etc,
Madam, – Your Editorial on the arrest and charging of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma in bizarre circumstances is a clear concise summary of the political impasse in that benighted country. Your remarks, however, on the silence of Burma’s Asian neighbours (which you state is motivated by self-interest) are, I consider, unfair and reflect the rigid notion of western democracy, a system that will never fit in all countries round the globe. Need I mention countries in Africa and many in Asia?
The road to Rangoon and Beijing takes one to a world of widely different social and political hues. A little more understanding of their culture and social patterns might be the first step to the solution of the stalemate that has bedevilled this former British colony.
Instead of condemnation from the US and Europe for the denial of civil rights the wiser course to bring about change is, as you rightly point out, the solvent of dialogue with the junta as well as trade and educational links in the same way as is being used in China.
The crisis in our banking system, the political expenses scandals that have made headlines does little to inspire confidence in our much-vaunted democratic system. – Yours, etc,