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10/30/2007: "NSCN seeks federal tie-up; Muivah hopes for political will to solve Naga imbroglio Nishit Dholabhai The Telegraph"

NSCN seeks federal tie-up; Muivah hopes for political will to solve Naga imbroglio Nishit Dholabhai The Telegraph

New Delhi, Oct. 29: Seeking to establish a special federal relationship between “India and the Nagas” pivoted on a joint defence mechanism, NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah today expressed the hope that the necessary political will not be found wanting. The general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) was speaking to The Telegraph in an interview today.

According to Muivah, if Delhi were to give the Nagas what they want, its prime concern — which relates to the security of Nagaland and, as a corollary, the rest of the Northeast — needs to be addressed. If this is done, believes Muivah, the Naga problem can be resolved for good.
The outfit has a different take on federalism. “When an agreement could be arrived at and a relationship is well defined, both Nagas and the government of India can go to the extent of being bound up. In that, separation would not be possible,” said Muivah. Citing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s statement to the Nagas that she was concerned most about India’s security, the NSCN (I-M) leader said his outfit was ready to meet those concerns even today. “Had she been here today, she would have confronted the issue,” he claimed. The Centre obviously has no intention to give a semblance of separate identity to the Nagas beyond more autonomy. Nagaland is currently administered under Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which guarantees protection to Naga customs, traditions and identity.

But Delhi’s concerns are also premised on Nagaland’s strategic location. It is concerned about the outfit’s continued contacts with Beijing since the Sixties. Supplementing this is a firm belief within the establishment that economic development in Nagaland will act as a magic cure and eventually end militancy. That, according to Muivah, is the Centre’s miscalculation and warned that if “something of a global nature happens, it will be a big issue for India”.

Muivah said the Nagas are sensitive to another identity and must be citizens of Nagalim and, at the same time, of India as well, suggesting a sort of “dual citizenship”. He said unless there was a separate constitution for Nagalim, the outfit would be driven back to insurgency. “We can have a joint defence of Nagalim and if the security problem of the Nagas is solved, the problem of Indian security does not arise. Nagalim can be best defended by Nagas. If India is protecting (us), that problem is not solved,” he said.

The Centre has already rejected this proposal, saying that “India will defend”. Muivah conceded that while no government at the Centre will be strong enough to take such a decision, yet to solve this problem, realistic steps need to be taken. A joint defence mechanism would be advantageous to both sides, Muivah claimed, ensuring protection from “forces inimical to India’s interests”. For the outfit, the exercise would also take care of the large number of the outfit’s militant activists who would lose their jobs following a solution, say observers.

Naga cease-fire in crisis: Muivah (ANI):
New Delhi, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (IM) General Secretary,Thuingaleng Muivah, has accepted for the first time, that ten years of Indo-Naga peace talks are in crisis. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Muivah said the Central Government should not have any “miscalculation about our patience”, and added that if it can’t maintain “sincerity” in talks, it’s no use “talking”.

To a specific question whether the peace talks are at a precarious stage, he replied “I think you are right…it’s not easy to expect better chances, it's better to try”. He said in the eventuality of a breakdown in talks, the NSCN (IM) cadres would be forced to go back into the jungles. Blaming the government for testing the patience of the Naga people, the veteran insurgent leader questioned the "guts" of the Indian leadership to solve the six-decade-old problem.
“We have given our commitment, and for the last ten years, we have been talking and talking, how are they behaving. They are giving arms and ammunition to the K group and K is fighting with us. Where is the sincerity and where is the standard…you can’t ask us to behave with the kind of policy. We will be compelled .We won’t accept any imposition on us. Naturally, we will have to decide what is best for us. If the jungle is better, we have to go. You can’t afford to be seen to be bearing with the Indian insult. We have had enough patience…cease-fire is in crisis,” said an agitated Muivah.
Muivah justified the sudden disappearance of NSCN (IM) Chairman Isac Chisi Swu from India on the ground of the Naga leader’s frustration with the pace and progress of talks.
“We have to know that when the Government of India is not respecting at all. They are just holding talks in name to buy time, you can’t be expected to be happy with that kind of policy. If the Indian Government does not care about any one, Chairman Isac Chisi Swu should not be expected to care for India,” Muivah said.
He also revealed his plan to go to Europe if there is no progress in the talks. Yes, if nothing positive happens, I need to go off for some time, and whenever necessary, we can come back,” the Naga leader reasoned. Narrating the “bold steps” taken and the flexibility shown by the NSCN(IM) in the last ten years since the beginning of the cease-fire to solve the Naga problem, Muivah said the Nagas don’t want to be a threat to India. He talked about a “federation which will bind India and Nagaland in such a way that neither side is a detriment to the interest of the other.
"That means almost becoming one,” he added. According to Muivah, among the bold steps taken by his outfit to solve the vexed problems were giving India the right to defend Nagalim, complete right of the central government to determine foreign policy vis-a-vis Nagalim, the Nagas’ willingness to accept Indian currency, the Nagas right to preserve their identity and the Nagas acceptance of dual citizenship-citizen of India and Nagalim both.
“The relationship should be of a special type - a federation of India and Nagalim to be bound. So, problems of India’s apprehensions are all solved. This is what we want and what we can do. But instead of appreciating us, they (Government) have their own calculations that the Nagas would come around…that would be a terrible mistake in their calculations”, warned Muivah. During the hour-long interview, Muivah appeared quite bitter with the Indian Government's response on Nagalim or what is more popularly known as “Greater Nagaland”.
He said that by dividing Naga contiguous areas into different states, the government has heaped insult on the peace loving people of Nagaland. This is for the first time NSCN(IM) leader has spoken so openly on the status of the Naga talks.
The two sides recently concluded talks on the ninth of this month. A glimmer of hope, however, seems to be there with both parties deciding to form committees to discuss core issues. The discussion in the committees will decide the contour of the next round of talks.
When the ceasefire was extended for the indefinite period on July 31, it was hailed as a landmark development.In the previous round of talks held abroad and in New Delhi, the NSCN-IM had submitted a charter of demands to the Government that included the creation of a separate Constitution for Nagaland, a "new and unique" relationship with New Delhi and unification of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
But these three states have rejected the demand.
In the Bangkok talks held last year, both sides had agreed on a broad framework to define a relationship that could end Naga insurgency.
There was, however, confusion over the parameters of the broad framework.
Muivah arrived in India in December last year, while Swu came to the country in the first week of January. Since then, they have been in Nagaland for discussions with NSCN-IM cadres and civil society and political leaders on the group's key demands.

Mutual co-operation is the need : IM leader The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 29 : The Central Administrative Officer of the Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN (IM), L Golmei has categorically stated tat whatever the situation, the people of the hills and the valley should help each other in times of need and stressed on the need for both to live amicably.
Chatting exclusively with The Sangai Express, Golmei said that it is imperative that the valley people should see what ails the people in the hills and likewise the hill people too should do the same thing. There should be mutual understanding through discussions and sharing of ideas, he added. It is when the people of the hills and the valley start looking after the needs of each other, will there be mutual love and understanding said the IM leader.
Asserting that a number of underground outfits as well as Ministers and political leaders have been looting the public and siphoning off what belongs to the people, the CAO said that the civil society organisations of both the hills and the valley should investigate all such issues and accordingly fix responsibilities.
Coming down heavily on the prevailing trend of percentage cuts in supply and contract works, the CAO said that before the work order of any project is even issued, it has become a common practise for the Ministers and officials to deduct 15 percent of the total outlay. On top of this some underground orga-nisations are known to levy their percentage cuts sometime upto 45 pc. Such a trend affects the quality of the work for the contractors, in their bid to earn a profit are constrained to compromise with their work, he observed.
“Let’s leave aside the cuts levied by the UG groups and question where the money taken by the Ministers and the officers have gone,” asked the CAO and added that such corrupt officers and Ministers ought to be pulled up by the public. Even the poorest of the poor, are robbed of their monthly quota of 30 kgs of rice, he said and added that the rice meant for these people are being siphoned off by the officers. The recent case wherein the NSCN (IM) impounded ten truckload of rice while they were being taken to Mizoram and Silchar for sale on the sly is a clear testimony of the poor being robbed of their rightful dues, he asserted. The seizure of the ten trucks is just the tip of the ice berg, he said and added that the NSCN (IM) clearly knows that between May and October this year at least 350 to 400 truckloads of rice have been taken out from Manipur for sale in other States.
Explaining the modus operandi of the racket, the CAO said that once the rice laden trucks reach Imphal from the FCI godown at Dimapur, they are driven to the FCS godown at Sangaiprou.
The trucks wait without unloading their goods till the Sun sets, he said and added once it becomes dark, the trucks are driven out again to head for NH-53. The rice are unloaded at a godown owned by one Achito at Jirighat and at Chama godown located at Khasipur situated between Rongpur and Baskhandi. From these godowns, the rice are taken to Mizoram and Silchar. Stating that the NSCN (IM) knows some of the guys involved in the racket, the CAO identified them as Rajen and Iboton of Tera, Kamal from Singjamei and Kamal, Pappu Lalal and Natesh from Mantripukhri. Some officials of the FCS are also involved in the racket, said the CAO and added that these officials have built godowns at their residences to store the rice. The time has come for all to unmask these elements who have been robbing the poor, exhorted the CAO. The mid-day meal scheme for school going children has also been reduced to a big joke in Manipur, said the CAO further.

Chakhesang youths serve deadline to NSCN-K/FGN ‘Killings have only destroyed our people’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 29 (MExN): Urging it to call what is wrong, a wrong, the NSCN-K and the non-accordist FGN are given a 30-days deadline by the Chakhesang youths and students to “deliver justice” in the case of the October 3 killing of four persons, which included a students’ leader of the Chakhesang Students’ Union.
A Chakhesang Students’ Union and Chakhesang Youth Front letter addressed to so-stated “home minister” of the NSCN-K and FGN (non-accordist), reminded the underground outfits that justice should prevail over wrongs. “…should wrong be justified, it would only nailed the coffin of the organizations and people’s movements” the CYF advised. Mention may be made here that CSU’s games & sports secretary Vechikho Puro, VEC chairman Kuzhongoyo Puro and a former NSCN-IM leacy Kevetso Kezo and “2nd lieutenant” Avo Kezo were shot dead on October 3 in Kohima. A NPF youth wing vice president, Beduvo Vero, was also seriously injured.
The letter was issued through Vevoyi D Vadeo and Mudovoyo Vero, presidents of CSU and CYF respectively. The letter reminded of the killings, subsequent condemnation of the killing of innocents and the justification offered by one Thepuvezo of the NSCN-K Chakhesang region. The CSU and CYF slammed the justification as outrageously malicious and ‘only vitiates the issue.’ Impressing upon the sake of natural justice and goodwill, the underground outfits were asked by the Chakhesang youths to tackle the issue with tact and ‘justice.’
The youths said they are devastated by the factional killing, where youths and students have become the heaviest casualty. Factional killings have only destroyed the people and no faction can stand proud of having killed a fellow Naga, the Chakhesang youths reminded. “…we the students and the youth can never understand why innocent students and youths have to be coldly mowed down by automatic weapons for the simple fact of sitting in the same car with a faction cadre. Reason fails as to why armed faction cadres have to kill anyone who may be around a perceived enemy of another faction” the youths questioned.
“I the first place, no Naga is an enemy of our Naga nation. It is only perception and reason that has brought about this self-destruction and disastrously the Naga factions are vitiating it relentlessly” the youths lamented. “Any underground organization or government that does not value Naga lives is not a Naga nationalist organization…” it reminded.
Giving the two outfits a thirty-day time from the date of submission, for justice, the Chakhesang youth community gave them a reminder not to let injustice erode the sacred pledge of faith and allegiance. “Let justice not be crushed by guns and blind fury...” it stated.
Appeal to the collective leaders- Nagaland Post Opinion
Isak Swu and T. Muivah (NSCN I-M), Khaplang NSCN (K) and Adinno Phizo (NNC) for formation of a Naga constitution committee and also for cessation of quit notice/Azha
First of all, I would like to convey my warmest love and regards, as our Naga issue is a political issue and not a militant/terrorist issue, and having moral responsibility and political right I would like to make a humble and honest appeal to all of you.
1. Nagas, in its political struggle, have shed much innocent blood. Even with many sacrifices, we have not yet achieved our cherished goal, due to lack of common will among our Naga National worker's. As far as I am concerned, Naga National workers have failed to produce an acceptable and democratic constitution. History tells us that every nation has a constitution which is framed for the people and by the people before its declaration or after its declaration as a Nation. Our Naga political issue seeking for a sovereign/federal right is what every single Naga soul aspires. It is now our Naga National leaders' responsibility to set up a Naga Constitution Committee so that our Naga political issue could be discussed even up to the United Nation.
2. As a Naga by blood and birth, it is very hurting that our own Nagas issued an Azha/quit notice to a particular person/ tribe. Our Naga National leaders should have a clear vision that criticizing one another and serving Quit Notice won't serve any solution to our Naga issue. As the Government of India has its own political principal and ideology, our Naga National leaders should not involve/participate in the GoI (state election). Naga National leaders should maintain one's own principal and status. If at all there is a compulsion and necessity, then the National workers' should justify and get involved with its own logo as NSCN (K), NSCN (I-M), NNC and not as a Congress (I) NPF etc. Whatever decision taken by our Naga leaders is recorded in the annals of our Naga history. Our Naga National leaders should sow good seeds and not the seeds of tribalism, Hatred etc.
Lastly, I hope and pray that there is peace, Naga constitution and a clear National vision by abolishing quit/notice Azha within our Naga brethrens.
Kuknalim T. Thonnwalo Naga Social worker HQ Tesophenyu
Setback for ULFA, 14 rebels surrender By IANS
Guwahati, Oct 30 (IANS) At least 14 militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have surrendered before the authorities in Assam, taking the number of rebels laying down arms in the past one week to 45. A military spokesperson said the cadres, all from the ULFA's '28th battalion', the most potent fighting unit of the outfit, surrendered before army authorities Monday at the 2nd Mountain Division headquarters at Dinjan in eastern Assam.
'This is a major surrender with several of their top leaders, including a woman, joining the mainstream after being totally frustrated and disillusioned with the ULFA leadership,' an army commander said. A number of army units operating in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have facilitated the surrender. 'We were not at all happy with the way things were being handled by our top leadership. We were looking for an opportunity to surrender,' one of the rebels said, requesting not to be named. Last week, 31 ULFA rebels, including three senior leaders of the '28th battalion', surrendered to the army and police at Tamulpur in western Assam. 'More and more ULFA rebels are now willing to come over ground,' the commander said.
Mutual co-operation is the need : IM leader By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 29 : The Central Administrative Officer of the Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN (IM), L Golmei has categorically stated tat whatever the situation, the people of the hills and the valley should help each other in times of need and stressed on the need for both to live amicably.
Chatting exclusively with The Sangai Express, Golmei said that it is imperative that the valley people should see what ails the people in the hills and likewise the hill people too should do the same thing. There should be mutual understanding through dis- cussions and sharing of ideas, he added. It is when the people of the hills and the valley start looking after the needs of each other, will there be mutual love and understanding said the IM leader.
Asserting that a number of underground outfits as well as Ministers and political leaders have been looting the public and siphoning off what belongs to the people, the CAO said that the civil society organisations of both the hills and the valley should investigate all such issues and accordingly fix responsibilities.
Coming down heavily on the prevailing trend of percentage cuts in supply and contract works, the CAO said that before the work order of any project is even issued, it has become a common practise for the Ministers and officials to deduct 15 percent of the total outlay. On top of this some underground orga-nisations are known to levy their percentage cuts sometime upto 45 pc.
Such a trend affects the quality of the work for the contractors, in their bid to earn a profit are constrained to compromise with their work, he observed.
“Let’s leave aside the cuts levied by the UG groups and question where the money taken by the Ministers and the officers have gone,” asked the CAO and added that such corrupt officers and Ministers ought to be pulled up by the public.
Even the poorest of the poor, are robbed of their monthly quota of 30 kgs of rice, he said and added that the rice meant for these people are being siphoned off by the officers.
The recent case wherein the NSCN (IM) impounded ten truckload of rice while they were being taken to Mizoram and Silchar for sale on the sly is a clear testimony of the poor being robbed of their rightful dues, he asserted.
The seizure of the ten trucks is just the tip of the ice berg, he said and added that the NSCN (IM) clearly knows that between May and October this year at least 350 to 400 truckloads of rice have been taken out from Manipur for sale in other States.
Explaining the modus operandi of the racket, the CAO said that once the rice laden trucks reach Imphal from the FCI godown at Dimapur, they are driven to the FCS godown at Sangaiprou.
The trucks wait without unloading their goods till the Sun sets, he said and added once it becomes dark, the trucks are driven out again to head for NH-53.
The rice are unloaded at a godown owned by one Achito at Jirighat and at Chama godown located at Khasipur situated between Rongpur and Baskhandi.
From these godowns, the rice are taken to Mizo-ram and Silchar.
Stating that the NSCN (IM) knows some of the guys involved in the racket, the CAO identified them as Rajen and Iboton of Tera, Kamal from Singjamei and Kamal, Pappu Lalal and Natesh from Mantripukhri. Some officials of the FCS are also involved in the racket, said the CAO and added that these officials have built godowns at their residences to store the rice. The time has come for all to unmask these elements who have been robbing the poor, exhorted the CAO. The mid-day meal scheme for school going children has also been reduced to a big joke in Manipur, said the CAO further.

Holding parties accountable Editorial Morung Express
It is now quite common to experience the practice of promises contradicting performance, especially in relation to governments and political parties involved in electoral politics. Ironically it is through the promises they make that they win the confidence of people; and inevitably, the very same that gets broken time and time again by the many parties that assume political power. The degrees to which political parties deviate from their promises betray a lack of will and commitment to truly serve the needs and aspirations of the people they claim to represent.
What does the habit of promises contradicting performance truly represent and what are its implications to human society? Does it mean that once in power, politicians take the people for granted? Or, are the people so naïve and powerless that every time their politicians betray the promises made, they so ignorantly become indifferent to the abuse of trust and the arrogance of power. Nonetheless, it does certainly raise fundamental questions of trust, democratic governance and accountability to the people.
The politics of forgetting, or more specifically selective amnesia is a common trait amongst government, and in particular, political parties in power often conveniently prefer to forget the promises they make on the campaign trail or when on the opposition bench. While they refrain from making precise promises once they are at the helm of political power, they are compelled by circumstance to declare programs and packages, primarily resulting from the necessity of coalition politics and of course the nature of support on which they are founded.
Though governments formed on coalition politics may have its share of limitations, it does however cause problems related to the politics of forgetting. Due to the inherent nature of coalition government, selective amnesia on the part of government is much more difficult and cannot be conveniently dismissed. The promises made in the heat of campaigns just cannot remain a promise it must be translated into performance that adequately responds to the need of the people. Coalition governments do provide a minimum level of accountability from within the partners.
However in practice this does not necessarily imply that all coalition governments perform in accordance to their promises nor are they held accountable in a manner that reflects coalition politics of check and balance. When a coalition government performs in contradiction to its promises and actually gets away for doing so, it reflects serious breach of trust and an indifferent attitude towards the people they represent. More seriously it implies that either the people have become an accomplice or the coalition government has gotten too powerful to the extent of ignoring the rights of people.
Nagas are in an era of coalition politics. A higher standard of conduct and commitment in its performance to fulfill its pledge is expected. Tragically, the legislature – both government and opposition – continues to function behind rhetoric of improvement and development without actual performance. The barrage of speeches without action has become the norm. Nagas must critically question whether the present situation has resulted because of the public’s indifferent attitude or because politicians have become too powerful to care for the public anymore?
With election not too far off, if the Naga public wishes to experience better governance and hopefully an improvement in their quality of life, it is imperative that the public themselves hold their representatives and the political parties accountable to the promises they make. Unless we do away with patronizing politics and parochial relationships between the representatives and the people, the politics of forgetting will only ensure the degradation of human life. With an informed and empowered public, it will indeed be refreshing to witness people ensuring that democracy is more than just procedural necessities, but participatory in the full sense of the term.
Manipur Rifle man found killed in MLA’s bungalow Newmai News Network
Imphal An 8th Manipur Rifles personnel was found dead early this morning while on duty with bullet injury in his head at the official quarter of local MLA Nandakumar at Lamphel in Imphal West district. The MR personnel, identified as Abdul Satar (31) s/o Abdul Jabar of Lilong Haoreibi had been posted as the official guard of Nandakumar.
According to a source, the deceased Manipur Rifle man was allotted duty at his post from 1 am to 3.30 am. At about 2.30 am (Sunday) a gun shot was heard and when his comrades rushed to the spot he was found in a very critical condition with bullet injury in his head. He was rushed to Shija Hospital, Imphal immediately and later referred to the J.N Hospital. However, he succumbed to his injury at about 4 am (Sunday). Uripok Assembly constituency MLA Nandakumar, speaking to reporters while at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) morgue, admitted that he has no knowledge about the incident though he had been at his quarter during the reported time of the incident.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, the corpse of the 2nd Manipur Rifles personnel who went missing after the reported shoot out with the Imphal East police commandos at Mahabali area in Imphal East district on the night of October 24 has been retrieved this morning at around 8 at the Brahmapur area along the Imphal river by the Imphal East police.
The deceased identified as Thenkholun Haokip (37), a rifleman in the 2nd MR was allegedly invloved in the shoot out incident with the police on the night of October 24. The police accused him and his accomplice of working as an agent of the underground Kuki National Army (KNA). Haokip received bullet injuries on his head, chest and back. The dead body has been deposited at the RIMS morgue for post mortem.
‘ULFA setting up fresh camps in Bhutan forests’ Newmai News Network
Guwahati | Newly appointed Director General of the Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) Gopal Sharma on Sunday said that there are some reports that the Ulfa militants have set up fresh camps in the forests of Bhutan. The DG, who came here to inaugurate the SSB officers’ family accommodation at Tower A-10 of the Games Village, said this while talking to the media. Sharma however, did not divulge and added that he would take stocks of the situation soon. The SSB is the only force, which have been manning the 1751kms long Indo-Nepal and 699 kms long Indo-Bhutan border.
“There are some reports about the Ulfa setting up camps in Bhutan. We have our forces deployment there and we are taking necessary steps in this regard,” he said and added that manning the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders is one of the major challenges for the SSB. “Both the borders are open and porous along the two friendly countries. There is no restriction on the movement of people of either country and this makes it difficult for the SSB personnel to stop trans-border crimes, smuggling and other illegal activities,” he said.
“Besides, our objective is also to promote a sense of security among the people living in border areas,” he said and added that the force is also responsible providing safe and secure movement of Bhutanese citizens inside Indian territory. Meanwhile, sources in the force further informed that the SSB is trying to increase its battalions and added that at present there are 41 battalions in the SSB. “We are trying to increase it to 45 and recruitment is on at various levels,” said the sources.
“Recently we held a recruitment rally in Salanijan. The SSB always recruits local youth as the locals only could understand the psychology of the militants or anti-socials in a better way,” said the sources.
Left Wing |John Pilger The Politics of Hypocrisy The Morung Express
The news is no more from Burma. The young monks are quiet in their cells, or they are dead. But words have escaped: the defiant, beautiful poetry of Aung Than and Zeya Aung; and we know of the unbroken will of the journalist U Win Tin, who makes ink out of brick powder on the walls of his prison cell and writes with a pen made from a bamboo mat - at the age of 77. These are the bravest of the brave. What shame they bring to those in the west whose hypocrisy and silence helps to feed the monster that rules Burma.
Condoleezza Rice comes to mind. “The United States,” she said, “is determined to keep an international focus on the travesty that is taking place in Burma.” What she is less keen to keep a focus on is that the huge American company, Chevron, on whose board of directors she sat, is part of a consortium with the junta and the French company, Total, that operates in Burma’s offshore oilfields. The gas from these fields is exported through a pipeline that was built with forced labour and whose construction involved Halliburton, of which Vice-President Cheney was chief executive.
For many years, the Foreign Office in London promoted business as usual in Burma. When I interviewed Aung San Suu Kyi a decade ago I read her a Foreign Office press release that said, “Through commercial contacts with democratic nations such as Britain, the Burmese people will gain experience of democratic principles.” She smiled sardonically and said, “Not a bit of it.”
In Britain, the official PR line has changed; Burma is a favourite New Labour “cause”; Gordon Brown has written a platitudinous chapter in a book about his admiration of Suu Kyi. On Thursday, he wrote a letter to Pen, waffling about prisoners of conscience, no doubt part of his current empty theme of “returning liberty” when none can be returned without a fight. As for Burma, the essence of Britain’s compliance and collusion has not changed. British tour firms - such as Orient Express and Asean Explorer - are able to make a handsome profit on the suffering of the Burmese people. Aquatic, a sort of mini-Halliburton, has its snout in the same trough, together with Rolls-Royce and others that use Burmese teak.
When did Brown or Blair ever use their platforms at the CBI and in the City of London to name and shame those British companies that make money on the back of the Burmese people? When did a British prime minister call for the EU to plug the loopholes of arms supply to Burma. The reason ought to be obvious. The British government is itself one of the world’s leading arms suppliers. Next week, the dictator of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, whose tyranny gorges itself on British arms, will receive a state visit. On Thursday the Brown government approved Washington’s latest fabricated prelude to a criminal attack on Iran - as if the horrors of Iraq and Afghanistan were not enough for the “liberal” lionhearts in Downing Street and Whitehall.
And when did a British prime minister call on its ally and client, Israel, to end its long and sinister relationship with the Burmese junta? Or does Israel’s immunity and impunity also cover its supply of weapons technology to Burma and its reported training of the junta’s most feared internal security thugs? Of course, that is not unusual. The Australian government - so vocal lately in its condemnation of the junta - has not stopped the Australian Federal Police training Burma’s internal security forces. Those who care for freedom in Burma and Iraq and Iran and Saudi Arabia and beyond must not be distracted by the posturing and weasel pronouncements of our leaders, who themselves should be called to account as accomplices. We owe nothing less to Burma’s bravest of the brave.