CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS NEEDED TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON BURMA

CAREFUL CONSIDERATION IS NEEDED TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON BURMA

Political climate in Burma at the moment is all about sanctions imposed by US and EU. Actually it is the occasion to fulfil what the regime wants for their continue grip on power. Chairing the ASEAN in 2014 which is one of the wish lists of new regime let by Thein Sein has been arranged and removing sanctions on Burma will be the next aspiration for deformed regime. Relatively those economic sanctions are about to be loosen for the sake of Thein Sein regime and its collaborators where the people of Burma are cheated with artificial freedom.

Though it is acceptable that some changes have taken place in Burma, it is too early to verify that they are real or trick. No official from the new regime as well as opposition can articulate that Burma is now heading for the route to genuine democracy. According to the scenarios that we all are seeing in Burma right now, conflict between Thein Sein’s regime and army officials are endlessly going on. So called president Thein Sein has not supremacy to stop the war in northern Burma when commander in chief of the army refuses to accept the order. As the dictators in Burma are so secretive, it is impossible to discover similar situation like power struggle among the dictators have been going on. Therefore unfair judgement on current situation in Burma will mean the west is feeding the oppressors instead of helping innocent Burmese people.

Without any other interest to help Burmese people, the changes in Burma should be distinguished as it is not sufficient attestation to consider building unfailing democratic society. There is a constitution that was drawn by dictators. There was a constitutional referendum, but the people of Burma could not voice as it should be. There was an election, but vote rigging made the dictators win almost all the seats in parliament. There are parliaments in Burma, but any proposal from a small number of opposition MP is obviously turned down. There are MPs in the parliaments, but almost all of them have not been elected by the people. There is a so-called president in Burma, but he was transformed from one of previous dictators and he wasn’t chosen by the people practically and technically.

Previous regime and new regime is exactly the same as they do not wish to release political prisoners. Worse than that so-called president Thein Sein and members of his regime keep denying there is no prisoners of conscience in Burma. But Thein Sein used the word political prisoners when he made barefaced plea to US and EU for lifting sanctions on Burma immediately. The fact here is that it is true that the Thein Sein regime released some political prisoners but it is only one third of all political prisoners in Burma. Two third of political prisoners are still behind the bar even though new regime claims that they have freed political prisoners in line with the call from the west. When we look at the conditions of release, article 401 of their constitution explains that if a freed political prisoner is arrested again upon any kind of offense, he or she has to serve current punishment plus remaining sentences from previous incarceration. Furthermore, we all have witnessed that a dissident in Burma may possibly be arrested on any occasion by dictatorial regime.

By looking at a couple of cases fabricated by new regime, such as taking legal action to the prominent and venerable Buddhist monk Ashin Pyinna Thiha (Shwe Nya War Sayadaw), the abbot of the Sardu Pariyatti Monastery for speaking at one of NLD office in Mandalay, suing again to recently released ex-army captain Nay Myo Zin for transporting T-Shirts with the picture of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's father Bogyoke Aung San into prison, and summoning recently released leading monk U Gambira and others for returning to their own monastery without permission indicate similar behaviour of previous regime is still in practice.

Despite the claim by Thein Sein regime that they are in the process of implementation for democracy in Burma, deformed army officials in current regime exercise secretiveness. They do not seem they are transparent to the people and international community as it should be. Without showing appropriate transparency, new regime won't differentiate previous dictators. As we all learnt from the situations in Burma, nobody knows exactly what has happened to previous regime and why Thein Sein regime is being replaced in dictatorial system with almost the same workforce and staffs of previous regime. They say this is disciplined democracy. In relation to the accomplishment of Thein Sein regime, it can be clearly seen that it is not much different between previous regime and current regime except a democratic facade.

The first and foremost thing that the Thein Sein regime should identify itself to show they are different from previous dictators is to set up a legitimate law abiding society for both officials and citizen of Burma to bring to light that no one is above the law and everyone is equal before the law. To perform this, a transparent legal system must be established along with a clear set of laws that are freely and easily accessible to all, strong enforcement structures, and an independent judiciary to protect citizens against the arbitrary use of power by the regime, individuals or any other organization.

Looking at the call from so-called president Thein Sein, he has demanded for sanctions to be lifted by the west saying “There are three requirements that Western countries would like to see us do. First is the release of political prisoners. Second is to hold the [parliamentary] election. Thirdly, to have Aung San Suu Kyi and others participate in our political process. I believe we have accomplished these steps already. What is needed from the Western countries is for them to do their part.” It sounds he is in a bargaining shop though he should have understood that those changes he mentioned above are inescapable once a country is moving toward genuine democracy.

Due to the attitude and manner of new regime in Burma, the officials from US and EU who are capable to set policy in order to loosen sanctions on Burma, should consider assurance on following things in exchange with lifting sanctions.

(1) Remaining all political prisoners must be free without exception.

(2) Coming by-election in Burma must be free and fair plus any other elections should be observed by international standards for election monitoring – UN or similar international election observers. According to existing circumstance, approaching by-election in Burma will likely to be free because it coincides with the US call for free April elections to exchange with lifting sanctions. Also available parliamentary seats in the election are just one tenth of the whole parliament

(3) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must have complete freedom to do things in the process toward genuine democracy in Burma for the interest of Burmese people and guarantee she will not be detained again from now on.

(4) Min Ko Naing, 88 student leaders and recently released political prisoners must have inclusive freedom for structuring genuine democratic Burma and guarantee any of them will not be arrested again with any premeditated charge.

(5) Official statement from the most responsible persons of Thein Sein regime should be released to proclaim that there will not be military coup in the future.

(6) Rule of law in Burma must be established immediately

(7) Intensive and Nationwide cease fire agreement must be implemented with all the ethnic minority groups and others.