GRAPE VINE
We need to keep pressure on Burma regime
source : Toronto star
Re It's time we build new bridge to Burma, Opinion, Aug.13.
Until 12 years ago, Burma was not well-known to the international community.
After the bloody massacre in 1988, Burma lost the talents of many people, including students and professionals, who have fled the
country.
Nowadays, Burmese activists are dispersed all over the world, and thus through their efforts Burma is under stern scrutiny by the world
community.
The brutal actions of the military junta have been condemned by the international community through repeated consensus resolutions by
the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights.
Canada has also shown concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Burma.
There are reliable reports that investments in Burma end up helping out only relative and friends of the military bullies.
Donors, humanitarian aid agencies and NGOs who want to work in Burma, have to sign a "memorandum of understanding" with the
junta. Though the content of it has not been made public, it is known that all their movements will be monitored and curbed.
If there should being offshore campus of Canadian universities
established in the near future, as suggested by Myint Shwe, the author of the article, nobody can deny that it would be subverted for the
sole use of the military elite.
Humanitarian assistance and strict ethical standards for international involvement must remain a priority and we should avoid any
actions that will give legitimacy to the junta.
By having no embassy in Burma, the Canadian government has acknowledged the fact hat the "butcher regime" is not the legitimate
government. This kind of action by the international community will only hurt the regime more than it hurts the Burmese people.
DR. ALICE KHIN SAW WIN
Lecturer
Faculty of Nursing and Medicine
University of Alberta
Admonton, Canada