The most famous Myanmese, long before Aung San Suu Kyi, was probably former Secretary-General of the United Nations, U-Thant. He was unanimously returned for a second term by the General Assembly and remembered largely for his tireless efforts in using diplomacy to resolve crises.
U-Thant had played a significant role mediating between Russia and the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963 which was successfully diffused. But that same tactic he used later in 1967 to try resolve escalating tensions between Egypt and Israel, after the UN under him withdrew peacekeepers in the Sinai peninsula buffer zone between the two sides, was criticised for contributing to the outbreak of the Six Day War.
As far back as 1991, Myanmar's neighbours which formed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations departed from Western attitudes towards Myanmar. While there were calls for sanctions against the military government, ASEAN opted instead for a policy of "constructive engagement".
Aung San Suu Kyi had called on ASEAN to " persuade or put pressure on the present regime to convene the parliament that was elected by the people". She would have become prime minister following her National League for democracy's victory in the 1989 elections, but the military nullified the results. In response, Thailand's deputy foreign minister then, Sukhumbhand Paribatra put forth a stance of "constructive engagement" and that a policy of exclusion would not achieve the desired outcome.
ASEAN has traditionally adopted a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of member nations. Apart from that though, individual countries have also had to balance their own national geo-political and economic interests in resource-rich Myanmar. This was after all their own backyard. But the issue of Myanmar sets new precedents. The military government repeatedly placing Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest is a constant source of international embarrassment, so much so that the group has threatened to expel Myanmar.
But patience appears to have paid off for Myanmar's neighbours, long-suffering on the international stage. ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Singapore to discuss just how to help Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis agreed to establish an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism.
This mechanism will draw on the Indonesian experience during the 2004 Tsunami, and "facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel."
U-Thant had played a significant role mediating between Russia and the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963 which was successfully diffused. But that same tactic he used later in 1967 to try resolve escalating tensions between Egypt and Israel, after the UN under him withdrew peacekeepers in the Sinai peninsula buffer zone between the two sides, was criticised for contributing to the outbreak of the Six Day War.
The lesson to be learnt perhaps is that diplomacy doesn't always work. Still could his be the way to engage the Myanmese government of today?
As far back as 1991, Myanmar's neighbours which formed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations departed from Western attitudes towards Myanmar. While there were calls for sanctions against the military government, ASEAN opted instead for a policy of "constructive engagement".
Aung San Suu Kyi had called on ASEAN to " persuade or put pressure on the present regime to convene the parliament that was elected by the people". She would have become prime minister following her National League for democracy's victory in the 1989 elections, but the military nullified the results. In response, Thailand's deputy foreign minister then, Sukhumbhand Paribatra put forth a stance of "constructive engagement" and that a policy of exclusion would not achieve the desired outcome.
ASEAN has traditionally adopted a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of member nations. Apart from that though, individual countries have also had to balance their own national geo-political and economic interests in resource-rich Myanmar. This was after all their own backyard. But the issue of Myanmar sets new precedents. The military government repeatedly placing Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest is a constant source of international embarrassment, so much so that the group has threatened to expel Myanmar.
But patience appears to have paid off for Myanmar's neighbours, long-suffering on the international stage. ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Singapore to discuss just how to help Myanmar in the wake of Cyclone Nargis agreed to establish an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism.
This mechanism will draw on the Indonesian experience during the 2004 Tsunami, and "facilitate the effective distribution and utilization of assistance from the international community, including the expeditious and effective deployment of relief workers, especially health and medical personnel."
"... International assistance to Myanmar, given through ASEAN, should not be politicised. On that basis, Myanmar will accept international assistance. ( italics added)To this end, the Ministers agreed to establish a Task Force, to be headed by ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, which will work closely with the UN as well as a central coordinating body to be set up by Myanmar, to realize this ASEAN-led mechanism. The meeting agreed that this ASEAN-led approach was the best way forward.
For a start, the Myanmar Government has agreed to accept the immediate despatch of medical teams from all the ASEAN countries. ASEAN has sent an Emergency Rapid Assessment Team to Myanmar and is ready to provide additional support. Myanmar should allow more international relief workers into the stricken areas, as the need is most urgent, given the unprecedented scale of the humanitarian disaster."
Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Chairman's Statement
Singapore, 19 May 2008
For now it appears that a compromise has been reached and most importantly the first thrust of much needed foreign aid may finally be getting into Myanmar.
Singapore, 19 May 2008
For now it appears that a compromise has been reached and most importantly the first thrust of much needed foreign aid may finally be getting into Myanmar.
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