Aung San Suu Kyi gets her sentence and MFA Singapore is happy

[ThERat]

I didn't find any thread regarding the ridiculous sentence the Aung San Suu Kyi received from the Burmese tyrannts.
The world was quick in rightly condemning this ridiculous verdict. However, the government in Singapore seems to think otherwise as you can see from this official press statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We are disappointed to learn that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty and sentenced to three years hard labour.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not plan to violate the terms of her house arrest, and the intrusion into her house was by a person who appears to be of unsound mind.

We are however happy that the Myanmar Government has exercised its sovereign prerogative to grant amnesty for half her sentence and that she will be placed under house arrest rather than imprisoned.

We are heartened that Minister of Home Affairs Major General Maung Oo had announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will be allowed to see doctors and nurses, communicate with her party, watch local television channels, read local newspapers and journals, and can receive visitors with the government’s permission and that there is a possibility that she could receive amnesty for the remainder of her sentence.

These are significant gestures by the Myanmar Government.

We hope that the Myanmar Government will allow Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the political process as soon as possible.

A meaningful dialogue between the Myanmar Government, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political groups in an open and inclusive process of national reconciliation is the only hope for the long term political stability of the country.

It leaves you sort of bewildered how one could be happy, hopeful and see something meaningful here. But don't forget, Singapore has always been a staunch supporter of the Burmese military junta.

It's really time for me to get out of here...it's just plain disgusting

 

[amadeus]

Looks like standard diplospeak to me.

 

[Imperialmajesty]

amadeus called it.

 

[Masada]

It leaves you sort of bewildered how one could be happy, hopeful and see something meaningful here. But don't forget, Singapore has always been a staunch supporter of the Burmese military junta.

... considering what they could have done to her the regime was positively pleasant!

 

[plarq]

... considering what they could have done to her the regime was positively pleasant!

The Burmese junta cannot afford killing her. Burmese junta, unlike many of its counterparts, are very unpopular and prone to split.

 

[Masada]

The Burmese junta cannot afford killing her. Burmese junta, unlike many of its counterparts, are very unpopular and prone to split.

There were other ways of getting to her which would have been far more effective than any murder.

 

[ThERat]

Are you trying to say, just because the junta could have killed her or tortured her or whatever else, we should be grateful and praise them as Singapore government did? I think you are sort of missing my point.

 

[Dachs]

Are you trying to say, just because the junta could have killed her or tortured her or whatever else, we should be grateful and praise them as Singapore government did? I think you are sort of missing my point.

"We" aren't the foreign ministry of a country, which generally tries to avoid unduly pissing people off, even if the people in question are total douchebags.

 

[Imperialmajesty]

"We" aren't the foreign ministry of a country, which generally tries to avoid unduly pissing people off, even if the people in question are total douchebags.

Especially considering that Myanmar and Singapore have normal relations with embassies and presumably trade.

 

[Kraznaya]

Especially considering that Myanmar and Singapore have normal relations with embassies and presumably trade.

I think that's precisely what TheRat is complaining about; that they do in fact have normal relations.

 

[Imperialmajesty]

I think that's precisely what TheRat is complaining about; that they do in fact have normal relations.

I would think he does not like that, however, I think his post was an angry vent against the moral ambiguity of the MFA statement first and foremost.

 

[Masada]

Are you trying to say, just because the junta could have killed her or tortured her or whatever else, we should be grateful and praise them as Singapore government did? I think you are sort of missing my point.

Because diplomatic criticism and ostracism have been effective before?

I think that's precisely what TheRat is complaining about; that they do in fact have normal relations.

If we were serious about dealing with Burma we would all have normal relations with the place so we could gain some measure of influence over the Junta. At this present moment the only people with influence over them are those they trade with. All the condemnation in the world is ineffective unless its backed by something tangible and they know it isn't!

 

[ThERat]

Maybe I wouldn't be so upset if Singapore would openly declare its support of a dictatorship. However, being the cynical and opportunistic nation it is, they want to be the nice guys to everyone, licking the boots of USA, China and any other nation they can make some $$$ with.

In this case however they could have just kept quiet, but most likely felt in order to please big brother America, a statement was necessary.

Singapore prefers to go after easy targets, like hanging drug traffickers by the dozen, but letting the real drug lords (like Burma) use their land to launder money.


Masada, do you suggest it is better to have 'normal' relations with a regime that lets its people suffer tremendously. I agree with you that words only are a lousy approach as can be seen in the case of North Korea.
However, to lick those Burmese dictators boots (recently one of them got an Orchid named after him in Singapore) while sending back peaceful Burmese protesters to their own country is quite a different step.

 

[Tee Kay]

Maybe I wouldn't be so upset if Singapore would openly declare its support of a dictatorship. However, being the cynical and opportunistic nation it is, they want to be the nice guys to everyone, licking the boots of USA, China and any other nation they can make some $$$ with.

It's also a small nation in a strategically important (and thus vulnerable) part of the world, so it is understandable.

 

[aelf]

Well, I believe the issue is that the fact that she got another fraudulent sentence so that she will conveniently miss out on the next elections is ridiculous in the first place, so there shouldn't be talk of any "kindness" on the part of the junta.

As Amnesty put it:

Irene Khan, the secretary general of Amnesty International stressed that while the Myanmar authorities “will hope that a sentence that is shorter than the maximum will be seen by the international community as an act of leniency”, it “must not be seen as such.” Suu Kyi “should never have been arrested in the first place,” she said.

Singapore will support the junta for some time to come because, according to the US (Singapore's close ally), a lot of the junta's wealth is parked in the country.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta!

 

[Masada]

Masada, do you suggest it is better to have 'normal' relations with a regime that lets its people suffer tremendously. I agree with you that words only are a lousy approach as can be seen in the case of North Korea.

I believe that continuing trade with despotic regimes has two effects, it doesn't punish the people and it gives you leverage to force the issue when the time is right. I simply do not in this case see any basis for harsh words achieving anything at all, its better to husband them for when they can actually do harm, otherwise your just wasting your breath.

However, to lick those Burmese dictators boots (recently one of them got an Orchid named after him in Singapore) while sending back peaceful Burmese protesters to their own country is quite a different step.

I don't like it. But I can understand why Singapore might decide on that course.

Well, I believe the issue is that the fact that she got another fraudulent sentence so that she will conveniently miss out on the next elections is ridiculous in the first place, so there shouldn't be talk of any "kindness" on the part of the junta.

There were worse things they could have done -- like completely strangling the opposition, arranging show trials and bringing their security apparatus into full public use, they haven't. Sure the Junta will steal this election but maybe not the next one and they know it, it goes something to explaining why they're at least trying to be conciliatory in nature. It's the closest thing you will get to mercy from a regime that realizes she's the living equivalent of Junta poison.

As Amnesty put it:

Amnesty are children.

Singapore will support the junta for some time to come because, according to the US (Singapore's close ally), a lot of the junta's wealth is parked in the country.

@ThERat See what I said about leverage.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta!

banksta.

 

[aelf]

No, I don't think Singapore is playing diplomacy here. It really does support the regime more than most other countries in the world.

 

[Masada]

No, I don't think Singapore is playing diplomacy here. They really do support the regime more than most other countries in the world.

Previous post? It's implied that nobody is serious about the problem.

If we were serious about dealing with Burma we would all have normal relations with the place so we could gain some measure of influence over the Junta. At this present moment the only people with influence over them are those they trade with. All the condemnation in the world is ineffective unless its backed by something tangible and they know it isn't!

 

[aelf]

There were worse things they could have done -- like completely strangling the opposition, arranging show trials and bringing their security apparatus into full public use, they haven't. Sure the Junta will steal this election but maybe not the next one and they know it, it goes something to explaining why they're at least trying to be conciliatory in nature. It's the closest thing you will get to mercy from a regime that realizes she's the living equivalent of Junta poison.

You are aware that this is a very weak argument, right? The next time you complain about a government quashing "economic freedom", can I just give this back to you?

Yes, of course this is not the worst they can do. Heck, they've done much worse, like denying the victims of Nargis, their own people, the immediate help they needed.

I don't think there are many excuses left for the Burmese government. Even here there is some talk of how the junta should not be supported, amongst a people who are still very much enamoured with 'Asian values'.

Amnesty are children.

Even so, it doesn't make them wrong.

@ThERat See what I said about leverage.

Previous post? It's implied that nobody is serious about the problem.

Perhaps the best argument there is. But so far it seems to have only been helpful in an extreme situation, and that was still much too late. Do you think any amount of befriending is going to change much before Tan Shwe dies or steps down?

It's not a situation where much can be done either way. But it's pretty well-known that Singapore benefits from the friendship, so there's not much to the moral argument at all.

 

[Masada]

You are aware that this is a very weak argument, right? The next time you complain about a government quashing economic freedom, can I just give this back to you?

We're dealing with an authoritarian dictatorship that can do whatever it wants and has done exactly that. Its now playing nicely and I'm inclined to believe that's because its realized that its position is unstable at best and untenable at worst. Something that the literature and Burma watchers have been hinting at for some time, how else do you explain its recent change of behaviour?

Yes, of course this is not the worst they can do. Heck, they've done much worse, like denying the victims of Nargis, their own people, the immediate help they needed.

Why is it playing nice all of a sudden now?

I don't think there is much excuse for the Burmese government by now. Even here there is some talk of how the junta should not be supported, among a people who are still very much enamoured with "Asian values".

It should have been gotten rid of years ago.

Even if so, it doesn't make them wrong.

They're a sop for young ignorant westerners looking to change the world. I hate them. In any case they don't seem to realize that the regime has given her such a lenient sentence for a reason and an obviously important one.

Perhaps the best argument there is. But so far it seems to have only been helpful in an extreme situation, and was still much too late. Do you think any amount of befriending is going to change much before Tan Shwe dies or steps down?

No, probably not. But building up links prior to his death will make dealing and reconciling with his successor much easier. Any transition to democracy will only happen at the sufferance of the Junta and not a whit before -- barring some massive shift in the military's position which is in FSB territory.

It's not a situation where much can be done either way. But it's pretty well-known that Singapore benefits from the friendship, so there's not much to the moral argument at all.

I never implied there was. I did say that words are a waste of time and effort in this case. I also said that if Singapore was so inclined it could use the regimes riches to good effect against it when the time is right. If for instance the regime was in the process of toppling with the odds looking lopsided Singapore at the instigation of the United States could probably tip the scales to flight instead of fight. There's no reason why Singapore would want to keep supporting a tottering regime and plently or reasons why it would want to please America and the next government all at the same tide. It'll pick the winner.