On May 10, Burma was supposed to undergo voting for a referendum on its new constitution. Under the new constitution, Burma’s junta would remain in power. However, there was only a “Yes” choice in the ballot. Voting was not optional. Burma’s junta had resorted to fear and intimidation tactics to force out a vote. However, the referendum has been postponed by the arrival of the devastating Cyclone Nargis.
Burma was heavily damaged by the cyclone. The death toll could be well between the high five and six figures. Millions more have been displayed from the damage of Cyclone Nargis. Cyclone Nargis has caused a massive humanitarian disaster that plagues the entire country.
While millions are homeless, they are at risk of contracting water-borne diseases. Recently, the United Nations brought aid and assistance. However, Burma’s military junta had seized it and denied visas to foreign workers. Such actions have caused the UN’s World Food Program to halt its operations.
At the same time, they rejected aid from the United States. In a sense, this is an opportunity for the United States to capitalize. Despite the damage, Burma’s junta has placed top priority on its referendum. As explained earlier, under the constitution, the junta will continue its grip let alone a tighter one on Burma.
So far, it is placing its referendum for a constitution over the needs of many that have suffered by Cyclone Nargis. Burma’s junta seems to relentless in trying to get this referendum passed.
But people do have mixed reactions about the voting.
In the case of the United States, it is prepared to deliver assistance. However, they have not received permission from Burma’s junta. It was able to respond to the 2004 tsunami with permission from Burma’s government.
When the United States attempted to put Burma’s record of human rights into the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, it was shot down by China and Russia. China and Russia are two of Burma’s allies. In a sense, Burma’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters mirrors that of China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tibet. Burma has been on the receiving end of sanctions by the United States for quite a while.
Back in 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party had won the elections. But, Burma’s junta refused to acknowledge the results. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest for 12 years.
So far, the acts of Burma’s junta have been called criminal. In response, Bernard Koucher, France’s Foreign Minister brought up the idea of intervention under the grounds of having the responsibility to protect the civilians. Koucher added that it can be invoked without permission from Burma’s junta. This could possibly be something that the United States can benefit from.
Such an intervention would need the assistance of the United States military. However, a decision has not been reached yet by the White House or the Pentagon. But, it will most likely to be opposed by China.
In that respect, what is happening in Burma could also loom over China in what could be a PR nightmare as it is set to host the Summer Olympics this Summer. So far, several issues have included: Tibet, Darfur, tainted food, hand-foot-mouth-disease (HFMD), human rights record, and the treatment of North Korean refugees. Burma could also be added to the list of issues that could hurt the Olympics in Beijing.
Depending on how the cards are played, it could help the Bush administration or blow up in its face.