http://chriswhiteonline.org/2009/05/protest-burma-regime/ Blogging from a life-long unionist Mon, 21 May 2012 06:27:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://chriswhiteonline.org/2009/05/protest-burma-regime/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Daniel Pedersen Sun, 17 May 2009 09:53:06 +0000 http://chriswhiteonline.org/?p=1300#comment-514 Australia has long held the belief that 'constructive engagement' is the answer to Burma's woes. In the past, in the same statement, Australia's former foreign minister Alexander Downer has stated 80 per cent of heroin on Australia's streets originates in Burma and that Australia maintains close ties with Burma. By default Downer hit the problem smack bang on the head right there without even realising. Australia's policy is ultimately flawed. You cannot have constructive engagement with a regime whose soldiers are encouraged to murder children, rape women, force people into slavery, exploit natural resources for the gain of the select few and rule with the gun. And sticking one's head in the sand and expressing dismay in any number of international forums doesn't work either, the regime uses the west's propensity for rational diplomacy to prolong its rule and make a laughing stock of those who would entertain them. Things must change, and if Australia wants to be a part of that change rather than a choir boy or girl it must stand up for people's rights as human beings. Australia has long held the belief that ‘constructive engagement’ is the answer to Burma’s woes.
In the past, in the same statement, Australia’s former foreign minister Alexander Downer has stated 80 per cent of heroin on Australia’s streets originates in Burma and that Australia maintains close ties with Burma.
By default Downer hit the problem smack bang on the head right there without even realising. Australia’s policy is ultimately flawed. You cannot have constructive engagement with a regime whose soldiers are encouraged to murder children, rape women, force people into slavery, exploit natural resources for the gain of the select few and rule with the gun.
And sticking one’s head in the sand and expressing dismay in any number of international forums doesn’t work either, the regime uses the west’s propensity for rational diplomacy to prolong its rule and make a laughing stock of those who would entertain them.
Things must change, and if Australia wants to be a part of that change rather than a choir boy or girl it must stand up for people’s rights as human beings.

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