Next Target for World’s Conscience: Myanmar : An apocalyptic ‘killing field’ for the former Burma?

There are so many tragedies around the world these days that few people are aware of the rapid deterioration of Burma. But that country--now known as Myanmar--is coming apart. Refugees are fleeing into Bangladesh at a rate of 5,000 to 7,000 a day. They are cramming into makeshift camps to escape the brutality of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which has turned to terror to drive out non-Buddhist religious and ethnic minorities.

International relief groups fear Myanmar is becoming a “killing field” as the military government goes unchallenged. Two years after the people voted for democracy, the military has refused to yield power. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, remains under house arrest.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has asked U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to “use his good office for the solution of this latest humanitarian problem.” In response, Boutros-Ghali called on Myanmar to “rectify” policies that have caused the refugees to flee. Concerned that the crisis will destroy regional stability, he urged the international community to support the U.N. Human Rights Commission, which condemned the violations and decided to send an investigator.

Up to 170,000 Burmese Muslims, known as Rohingyas, have fled to Bangladesh since December. Many of them accuse Burmese troops of rape, pillage and murder. For its part, Myanmar’s military refuses to recognize the fleeing Muslims as Burmese nationals.

Meanwhile, the SLORC has been waging a fierce attack against the Karen ethic minority. The military is trying to take the Karen stronghold at Manerplaw, on the border with Thailand. The Burmese army has been forcing villagers to help in mounting an assault. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have documented the army’s policy of coercing civilians--women as well as men--to undertake dangerous portage missions in the remote area. Forces of Myanmar also have shelled a rebel camp near the border with Thailand, prompting Thai patrols to fire warning shots after rounds hit a Thai village.

The SLORC is wreaking havoc in the area. To date the Assn. of South East Asian Nations has taken a Realpolitik approach to justify its continued trade and commerce with the deplorable military dictatorship. ASEAN must change that policy; it’s not working. The persecution of Muslims and others is unabated.

Three of the six members of ASEAN are Muslim nations. Najib Razak, Malaysia’s defense minister, said last week that ASEAN should take a unified stand against Myanmar for mistreating its Muslim minority. Such a stand is long overdue.

An economic boycott by ASEAN would send the clearest message and help choke off the SLORC, whose army is buying arms from China, Yugoslavia and Poland with money from hugely profitable hardwood and drug exports.

As long as the world pays little attention to the fate of Myanmar, the military will continue its rampage.