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BKK POST: Tim Wirth's Slip up





The Bangkok Post
Tuesday May 10, 1994
Post Opinion
 
US MUST CLEAR UP SLIP-UP ON BURMA
 
The call by a senior American policy-maker for increased US ties with 
Burma needs to be quickly dismissed before it is mistaken for an actual 
Washington plan. State Department Counselor Tim Wirth's proposal to 
reverse US action and widen contacts with Rangoon is badly 
misguided. His senior rank among US officials lends unwarranted 
emphasis to his call for a new American policy on Burma. US direction 
on Asian relations has recently come under internal fire from major 
Clinton Administration officials. Mr Wirth's sudden and confusing 
recommendation for reversal of a stable Burma policy needs to be 
quickly clarified.
 
Mr Wirth is a former US senator, with acknowledged expertise on 
narcotics matters. In an interview with the Reuters news agency last 
week, he recommended "more dialogue" between Washington and the 
Rangoon junta. Without providing details, Mr Wirth said such contact 
would reduce a huge outflow of heroin to the United States and other 
countries. He recommended ignoring the continuing and massive 
repression of Burmese in favour of his emphasis on the drugs problem. 
"I'm thinking of young people on the streets of the United States of 
America who are directly impacted by that," he told his interviewer. 
"That should be our priority."
 
Not even our own government's policy of "constructive engagement" 
is as cynical as Mr Wirth's proposal. The US official's proposal would 
completely overlook the massive and violent abuses of Burmese 
citizens. At least the Thai -- and ASEAN -- approaches to Rangoon aim 
at reversing repression by the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council (SLORC). Mr Wirth, as a former politician, may feel he still 
must serve an exclusively American population. the only satisfaction 
we can draw is from a fellow official in the State Department who said 
Mr Wirth's proposal was "unlikely to be met with much enthusiasm."
 
Available evidence shows SLORC has neither the desire nor the ability 
to launch an effective anti-narcotics programme. SLORC leader Lt Gen 
Khin Nyunt claimed last January his regime would move against 
narcotics peddling. The reality has been the opposite. An alleged 
military attack on warlord Khun Sa evaporated two months ago 
without a single gain. Opium growing and heroin refining continues to 
grow in northern Burma. SLORC has shown no commitment to combat 
such growth. In addition, troubling reports of direct links between 
narcotics dealers and SLORC officials continue unabated.
 
The proposal to put Rangoon and Washington on an equal diplomatic 
footing is misguided. Since it took power in 1988 over the bodies of 
thousands of dead citizens, SLORC has shown few signs of 
compassion. For five years, it has kept its best-known and most 
peaceful citizen imprisoned at home. Aung San Suu Kyi said in a recent 
interview she remains determined to continue her struggle for a 
democratic Burma. The world's only superpower should do no less.
 
There may be no absolutes in diplomatic affairs. But the lack of 
goodwill from SLORC is clear. Mr Wirth's proposal to give status to 
the Rangoon junta in the mere hope it might respond is misguided. 
SLORC has had many years and opportunities to improve its image 
through direct action. Instead, it has continued one of the most 
repressive systems of governments of our day. There are several 
opinions and policies about how to change this. Mr Wirth's proposal 
merely to overlook them and to have faith that heroin exports will 
decline is a major act of faith. Beside this, the Thai government's hope 
that a slow increase in economic and diplomatic relations will 
encourage an easing of SLORC's tyranny seems like a paragon.
 
The chief US policy-maker for Asian affairs, Winston Lord, complained 
last week that US-Asian relations have been sliding for the past six 
months. The confusing statement from Mr Wirth tends to back up this 
claim. United States policy towards Burma's been clear, and firm, since 
1988. Indeed, Mr Lord himself said a week ago that Washington 
intended to continue to disagree with ASEAN on the matter. "The 
United States wants Burma isolated while ASEAN is pursuing a policy 
of engagement," he said. If Washington is going to change this policy, 
it owes its allies a clear warning. If, as it should, the US intends to 
continue to press SLORC for change, it must make this clear. Mr 
Wirth's statement has caused confusion. The Clinton Administration 
should clear it up quickly.