2008 Woodie Awards
Sanctions from world powers may not solve Myanmar crisis
With the United States and other superpowers putting the economic pressure on the area formerly known as Burma, one editor feels that the actions may be counterproductive
Jon Miller
Issue date:
10/24/07
Section:
Opinion
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For those students who
do not feel inclined to watch
national or world news,
allow me to enlighten you
about the tragic situation
of the citizens of Myanmar,
formerly known as Burma.
Last month, at least 13
people, probably more,
were killed across Myanmar
for protesting against their
military-run government in
response to a steep rise in
fuel prices. Some are calling
it the worst crackdown in
the nation in 20 years.
In response to the killings
and the arrest of over
1,000 people, the European
Union, United Nations and
the United States placed
sanctions on Myanmar. The
idea is to pressure the government
into becoming a
democracy and release the
political prisoners.
I have always had mixed
feelings about one nation,
or nations, trying to force
another nation into change.
I believe in human rights
and that killing demonstrators
or incarcerating and torturing
them is wrong. But I
also believe in national sovereignty,
meaning that each
nation should be allowed
to govern itself without any
interference. It seems to me
that the nations that have
the larger armies and greater
resources decide what is
right and wrong.
On the other hand,
the UN, EU, and the
Association of South East
Asian Nations are not governing
Myanmar in the
conventional sense. Placing
sanctions on a country does
not necessarily affect what
goes on within its borders,
just what comes out of its
borders (i.e. trading goods,
money and citizens). So the
large group of nations is
not making or enforcing
laws within the unstable
country.
Within the last week, the
government of Myanmar,
in response to more sanctions
from President Bush,
vowed to start trudging
the road to democracy by
appointing 54 people to
a committee that will be
responsible for drafting
a new constitution. Some
believe this was only a gesture
do not feel inclined to watch
national or world news,
allow me to enlighten you
about the tragic situation
of the citizens of Myanmar,
formerly known as Burma.
Last month, at least 13
people, probably more,
were killed across Myanmar
for protesting against their
military-run government in
response to a steep rise in
fuel prices. Some are calling
it the worst crackdown in
the nation in 20 years.
In response to the killings
and the arrest of over
1,000 people, the European
Union, United Nations and
the United States placed
sanctions on Myanmar. The
idea is to pressure the government
into becoming a
democracy and release the
political prisoners.
I have always had mixed
feelings about one nation,
or nations, trying to force
another nation into change.
I believe in human rights
and that killing demonstrators
or incarcerating and torturing
them is wrong. But I
also believe in national sovereignty,
meaning that each
nation should be allowed
to govern itself without any
interference. It seems to me
that the nations that have
the larger armies and greater
resources decide what is
right and wrong.
On the other hand,
the UN, EU, and the
Association of South East
Asian Nations are not governing
Myanmar in the
conventional sense. Placing
sanctions on a country does
not necessarily affect what
goes on within its borders,
just what comes out of its
borders (i.e. trading goods,
money and citizens). So the
large group of nations is
not making or enforcing
laws within the unstable
country.
Within the last week, the
government of Myanmar,
in response to more sanctions
from President Bush,
vowed to start trudging
the road to democracy by
appointing 54 people to
a committee that will be
responsible for drafting
a new constitution. Some
believe this was only a gesture
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