'Concern' Doesn't Cut It

By Irrawaddy

With less than two months to go before Burma is subjected to an election that will be the very antithesis of “free and fair,” it is comforting to know that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has once again found the time to chime in on the country's current political situation.


“The Secretary-General notes with some concern the decision by the Union Election Commission to dissolve 10 political parties prior to the general election, including the National League for Democracy and four others for failing to renew their registration,” a spokesperson for the UN chief told reporters on Wednesday.

The party that has represented Burma's democratic aspirations for the past two decades is summarily erased by a regime that has murdered, raped and intimidated its way to absolute rule over 50 million people, and Ban expresses “some concern.”


Strong words, indeed.

The people of Burma are also concerned. But our concern is that the United Nations has again proven itself to be utterly ineffectual as a standard bearer and defender of democratic principles.

Since 1988, innumerable senior UN officials have jetted in and out of Burma to find a political solution to the country's problems and negotiate a way to national reconciliation. Among them were Malaysian diplomat Razali Ismail and Nigeria's Ibrahim Gambari, two seasoned negotiators whose high-profile mandate as special envoys representing the secretary-general raised the stakes of the UN's involvement in Burma. Sadly, both men failed abjectly in their efforts to move the country toward meaningful change.

It seemed, however, that almost every visit they made to Burma brought talk of “turning a new page” or yet another “imminent breakthrough.” Of course, there was never any evidence of this, but we were always assured that behind the scenes a “secret dialogue” was taking place that held some promise of real progress.

But what was really happening during their tenures was more of the same: indiscriminate killing of ethnic minorities, ruthless repression of the political opposition and vicious attacks on activists, media personnel and monks.

In 2008, Ban himself traveled to Burma to plead with the regime to allow international aid to reach victims of Cyclone Nargis. His mission was a qualified success: emergency relief began to flow into the devastated Irrawaddy delta, but only because Ban observed the generals' taboo against mentioning democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was due at that time to be released from five years of house arrest.

For many Burmese, this was adding insult to injury. We don't expect human decency from our rulers, but we do look to the leaders of the international community to speak up for the fundamental human rights of those who are powerless to speak for themselves.

Sadly, Ban's performance as secretary-general has been deeply disappointing. As long as he continues to confine himself to expressions of “concern,” Burma's rulers will only be emboldened to push forward with their anti-democratic mockery of an election. And the people of Burma, already weary after decades of unfulfilled promises, will lose what little hope they have left of support from the United Nations.

It's time for tougher words, Mr. Secretary-General, and some even tougher action