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NEWS - Kosovo-style crisis in Asia'



Subject: NEWS - Kosovo-style crisis in Asia's backyard

The Nation - May 31, 1999

Mailbag

Kosovo-style crisis in Asia's backyard

While looking at the media reports of the Kosovars and President Bill
Clinton's assessment of the humanitarian plight, one can't help but
wonder
about Sudan or Burma. Why not there and when will it happen? The danger
of a
shotgun foreign policy failure by the superpower of the world is one
frightful thought.

What is more frightful is that the poor Burmese people are also in the
same
catch 22 situation.

The Burmese junta has proven that they have outlasted the opposition in
the
fight for democracy. With friends in the region throwing the welcome mat
out
for membership to the old military boys' network, it seems that the only
losers are the Burmese and the ethnic races. Aung San Suu Kyi's firm
stance
for a democratic nation is no better off than it was 10 years ago. It
seems
democracy has lost its lustre with the US and the EU.

As Madeleine Albright continues her rhetoric about Serbia, one wonders
about
her disappointing visit two years ago that gave the green light to Hun
Sen
to overthrow his co-prime minister. Look up The Nation's archives: Her
excuse was she would not visit either prime minister upon landing in
Cambodia for security reasons.

The Burmese people need to really think again if the National League for
Democracy (NLD) is the answer to their problems as most of the NLD
members
live outside the country, either running a government in exile or eking
out
a living in the US or EU. These people do not feel the hunger or
shortages
of the people suffering inside Burma.

After 10 years and a stalemate, this lady must make a decision on what
is
best for the country she wants to lead. We need look no further than
Mahatma
Gandhi of India who chose the best path for his nation at a critical
point
in history. With 2000 upon us and the economic turndown in Asia there is
no
hope for the Burmese and the ethnic races as long as the current
strategy
continues.

America and the EU have all but written the poor Burmese off as a
deadend
policy.

Observer

USA