18.03.2007
Anti-Sanctions Debate
Regime can deflect blame for the people’s sufferings
In response to last weeks article "Can Sanctions Promote Human Rights?".....
Derek Tonkin said _
Without US sanctions, Castro would have been overthrown long ago. He and his regime nowadays depend on sanctions for their very survival. They would be lost without them. Sanctions are their best protection.
It might well be that the military junta in Burma, having survived ten years of US and EU sanctions, now feels that these sanctions too are important for their continuing rule and may well be praying that sanctions will be ratcheted up by a notch or two at the next EU review. They need excuses to explain away their own incompetence, and a few more Western sanctions will be greatly welcomed in Nay Pyi Taw.
Yosei said _
I disagree with your assertion that sanctions work. To follow your analogy, sanctions are a case when the cure is worse than the disease.
While I am no expert on the situation in Burma, my understanding of the Cuban situation is that Castro is using sanctions as a cover for his incompetent government. The effects of sanctions are felt mostly by the people, and the authoritarian regimes can deflect its blame for the people’s suffering onto America. This is how Cuba and North Korea keeps its people united against a common “enemy”, even amidst their suffering. Lifting the sanctions, allowing free trade, and investing in the country will lift people out of poverty, increase awareness of a better life abroad, and people will have only their government to blame for their suffering. It’s only a matter of time before the government loses its grip on power. Much better than cutting off a perfectly good limb. No?
Angela said _
“Applying sanctions on despotic dictatorships around the world is very much like giving bitter medicine to a patient.”
One’s attitude and perception can be changed based on knowledge exposure and one’s own experience. People’s perception on sanction inside Burma has been already left behind as time went on. I wonder whether it is fair or morally justifiable if ‘bitter medicine’ as you mentioned is forcibly given to 49 ms Burmese by a bunch of people who have been enjoying their freedom and quality of life outside Burma.
.
Your Comments here_
Request: If you can kindly volunteer to translate BURMA DIGEST English articles into Burmese, please let us know burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk .
Last issue's English article
