Madam, - I fail to see how our cosying up to the generals in Burma can make one whit of difference to the appalling human rights situation that has festered there since the military took power in 1962. It is a shocking indictment of the world community of nations that, after many years of so-called constructive engagement with the Rangoon regime, the military dictatorship has not budged one inch towards a return of democratic rule.
Many important countries, including almost all of our European partners, are in diplomatic relationships with Burma. But imprisonment, torture, child labour, and the shooting dead of innocent protesters on the streets have kept those despotic generals in power for 42 years now, despite the presence of these diplomatic missions.
Meetings and talks have been taking place over the past three years between Kofi Annan's special envoy, Razali Ismail, and senior members of the the governing State Peace and Development Council, but have proved fruitless. This exercise is seen by many as nothing more than a heel-dragging exercise by the junta to stave off further sanctions. Furthermore, a troika of ministers from the EU which went to Rangoon three years ago was unable to report any useful progress.
Now Mr Brian Cowen says that Ireland could "contribute more directly to promoting the process of democratisation and national reconciliation" in Burma through direct diplomatic contacts. One has to wonder what special magic he thinks we can weave to woo these intransigent tyrants into an unlikely espousal of democratic principles.
In his letter in your edition of February 24th Mr Cowen mentions two "significant factors" which influenced the decision to open diplomatic relations.
In respect of the first I do agree that Ireland's absence from the diplomatic scene in Rangoon "had not the slightest effect on the behaviour of the Burmese authorities", but that clearly makes the point also that the presence of the plethora of diplomatic missions operating there have had exactly the same negative effect.
In respect of the second, I see no reason for an Irish ambassador to be appointed, to enable Mr Cowen to exercise his prerogative to speak to Rangoon on behalf of the EU during Ireland's presidency.
After last year's savage attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters near Mandalay, in which many of her friends were killed and she herself seriously injured, I cannot believe that she would still wish us to appoint an ambassador to her tormentors. It would surely be cold comfort for this courageous Freeman of Dublin, who is such an icon of hope and inspiration for her oppressed and now impoverished people. The sad fact is that our Government's strange decision will confer unmerited legitimacy and respectability on a discredited and unsavoury regime.
It would be far more useful and realistic for our Minister to move his EU colleagues towards a common sanctions position, and also to call on the UN Security Council to impose mandatory sanctions on the recalcitrant generals. In the light of the total failure of diplomatic engagement, it is high time for the introduction of tougher measures. - Yours, etc.,
L.G. KILGALLEN, Crosthwaite Park South, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.