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Editorial: What is G.W. going to do about Myanmar? @ 25 January 2008 04:07 PM

Remember Myanmar?

Chances are, no, and the reason is that the news media has the attention span of a two-year-old. However, now that the international fury has died down, the government there has continued to crack down on the residents of Myanmar who want their democratically elected government in power, not the military government that they have now. It all started in September when the country's vast population of monks led uprisings against the government for raising gasoline and other petroleum-based product prices through the roof. As many as 100,000 civilians and monks at a time protested in hopes of bringing democracy to Myanmar (also known as Burma), but the government responded with violent crackdowns, resulting in the deaths and arrests of untold numbers for over a month. The press is controlled by the government, the internet has been shut off, and no foreigners have been allowed into the country, especially not press; members of the media who have reported on the events from inside the country risk their lives doing so.

The Bush administration imposed two rounds of sanctions against Myanmar and applauds the efforts of the people for their quest for democracy, saying that while "the people of Burma" appeal for our help, "we must not turn a deaf ear to their cries." However, Mr. Bush is being a terrible hypocrite and a terrible world leader in regards to this crisis. While this editorial is a far cry from a hope for a violent intrusion of Myanmar, it should be realized that sanctions will have almost no negative effect on the government; those imposed thus far and any additional sanctions will have a direct effect on the people of Myanmar, not on its brutal government who will take what it needs by force from the people. Instead of helping the people's fight, Mr. Bush is actually worsening their conditions. Also, any effort, diplomatic or military, should be done with combined effort from a real coalition, and in accordance with the wishes of the Burmese people. The protests in Myanmar have been so far been peaceful, and any international outreach should follow the example the monks have set and refrain from violence.

It is time for the international community to step up and put real pressure on the Burmese government, and Mr. Bush needs to lead this effort. Since the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Mr. Bush has justified the war by saying the United States is enlightening the Middle East by bringing democracy to Iraq. However, his failure to take any aggressive action against the Burmese government only serves to show his true colors and provoke the atrocities being committed the military junta there. There needs to be united, aggressive diplomatic, not military, action led, but not controlled by, the United States against the Burmese government. The Burmese people have cried for help, and the world must hear them. If we do not answer their pleas, the United States has no right to call itself a leader in democracy and civil rights.