How to Deal With Burma

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ASIA
February 1, 2008

By Jared Genser

It's been four months since Burma's military government brutally suppressed peaceful democracy protests, and one thing is clear: There's no incentive for change. This sentiment was most poignantly expressed Wednesday by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who told supporters to "hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

What's needed now is firm action from the United Nations -- action that is long overdue. After briefing the Security Council on Burma on Jan. 17, Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari evaded reporters' questions about the regime's brazen stall tactics. He even suggested the junta's denial of his request to visit last month was not a revocation of its "standing invitation" to him, but really just a question of timing.

One would have hoped Mr. Gambari might feel some sense of shame at having been played by the regime yet again. Almost two years ago, in a memorable display of naïveté, Mr. Gambari declared the regime appeared ready to "turn a new page" in its relations with the international community. Days later, the generals extended opposition leader Ms. Suu Kyi's house arrest for another year.

Even when the U.N. has acted, it's mostly been at America's urging. After a strong State Department push in 2006, the U.N. Security Council finally voted to place Burma on its agenda. A subsequent measure, urging a transition back to democracy, was vetoed by China and Russia and opposed by South Africa, which all claimed the situation was not a threat to peace and security in the region. Yet all seemed to change during last fall's Saffron Revolution and subsequent crackdown. In October, the Council issued a unanimous statement of condemnation and a demand for action. And then: silence.

The cold hard truth is that Mr. Gambari's mission has failed. Burmese leader General Than Shwe has seen many a special envoy come and go with similar rhetorical flourish. What is a required now is a concerted effort to increase the pressure on the regime and force it to the table. Greater financial and other sanctions by the U.S. and European Union were a good first step. But much more needs to be done.

First, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should immediately travel to Burma and tell the junta that the U.N. will no longer tolerate intransigence. Mr. Ban should also recommend further action by the Security Council if real progress is not achieved. The first concrete test of the regime should be the immediate release of Ms. Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Second, the U.S., the EU, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should urge China to follow India's lead and immediately halt arms sales to Burma. China has sold billions of dollars of arms to prop up the Burmese dictators and forestall the installation of a democratically elected government. Beijing should be held publicly accountable for its actions.

Finally, like-minded governments should coordinate their sanctions programs to ban banking transactions with top Burmese leaders, as well as state and private entities that support the government's weapons trade. There are no easy answers to restoring democracy to Burma. But the U.N. secretary-general and Security Council must not turn a deaf ear to countless Burmese people who courageously demanded a restoration of democracy to their country during last fall's protests.

Mr. Genser is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School.

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