Clinton's Cave-in

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        Date: 25 Nov 94 1800 JST
        From: NBH03114@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Reply-to:Conference "reg.burma" <reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Clinton's Burma cave-in
Digest:  Asahi Evening News, Nov. 25, 1994

The Clinton administration, after struggling messily for nearly two
years with the dilemmas of human rights diplomacy, seems at last to
have arrived at a consistent approach:  Deny reality, declare things are
getting better and lower the pressure on authoritarian regimes.  Now,
at least, tyrannies large and small, from China to Indonesia to Burma,
can count on consistent treatment.

Until this month Burma stood out as the principled exception to the
administration's complaisance.  While Asian and European countries
cozied up to the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC), Washington refused to forget about the SLORC's record of
trampling on elections, complicity with drug lords and continuing
atrocities against civilians.

To maintain pressure for change, the United States curtailed
diplomatic relations, suspended aid, blocked loans from international
banks and repeatedly criticized the SLORC's crimes in international
forums.

In early November, the administration dispatched a top official to
Burma with what it characterized as a tough message:  If  the SLORC
continued on its course, the United States would intensify its efforts to
isolate the regime internationally.  But if it took clear and specific
steps to ease repression and establish democratic rule, relations could
improve.

The SLORC listened politely, but yielded nothing beyond continuing
symbolic talks with the country's most prominent imprisoned
democrat, Aung San Suu Kyi.  Yet last week, Secretary of State
Warren Christopher claimed to discern "somewhat promising" results
from the mission and suggested that the administration was not
prepared to take a conciliatory approach to Burma.

Economic engagement can indirectly benefit human rights by raising
living standards and strengthening a middle class, which often becomes
a key pressure group for liberal reforms.

But the connection is scarcely automatic, as rich but repressive
Singapore demonstrates.

Similarly, diplomatic engagement can bring progress when the
government doing the engaging drives tough bargains and insists that
its terms be met.  But tough talk followed by the pretense that cosmetic
changes are "somewhat promising" only encourages contemptuous
abuse.

How sad to recall that Bill Clinton once denounced George Bush for
"coddling dictators."  He human rights performance in office begins to
make Bush, who never pretended to be other than a hard-headed
realist, look like a bleeding heart.  (Nov. 24)

The New York Times

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