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Burmese Interview

Broadcast by the Voice of America (Burmese Service) and the text has been published online by Thai-based Irrawaddy

May 11, 2003

The web link is http://www.irrawaddy.org/david.html

An Interview with David Kilgour

"The government of Canada, and like-minded countries, must continue to use all the pressure we can to convince the regime that it is time for change."

David Kilgour, the Canadian Sec of State (Asia-Pacific), spoke with Tin Maung Htoo, a freelance reporter for the Voice of America (Burmese Service) last week about the current state of affairs in Burma and the Canadian government's efforts to dissuade Canadian investment there. The two also discussed Canada's humanitarian aid to Burmese refugees and the need for a UN inquiry into human rights abuses.

May 13, 2003

Question: What is your assessment of the current political situation in Burma?

Answer: We, the government of Canada, see that since Aung San Suu Kyi was released about a year ago, there has been no evidence that the generals ruling Burma have any desire to have a dialogue about democracy with the concerned parties.

I'm sure you know that gross violations of human rights such as forced labor, ethnic persecution, torture, and intimidation continue. The Burmese army has also been using rape as a weapon of war. We, the government and the people of Canada, feel there should be an independent inquiry by the UN.

The short answer is that I don't think there has been any progress since the end of Suu Kyi's house arrest. I know that Dr Salai Tun Than and several other prisoners have been released. But over a thousand political prisonersare still languishing in Burmese prisons. Some of them remain after completing their sentences.

So, the government of Canada, and like-minded countries, must continue to use all the pressure we can to convince the regime that it is time for change.

Q: When Burma's military regime released Daw Aung San Suu Kyi they announced that they had written a new page in Burmese history. Indeed, her release provided a glimmer of hope for many Burmese people. But now that hope is fading. What do you think about this situation?

A: The current situation, in fact, runs contrary to the vision put forth by the regime at the time of her release. Things are getting worse. There is no political process. The country is on the verge of economic collapse, and there is no sign that the military is prepared to deal with the economic situation or engage in a meaningful process leading to national reconciliation.

Q: Since there has been no progress, do you think the military regime is playing games in order to prolong their stay in power?

A: There is no doubt about that. They are trying to keep the power and money in their hands. They make money on all kinds of things, including-some people say-drug trafficking. I am not saying everybody in the military regime is involved in drug trafficking. What people may not realize is that people are dying in the streets of Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and Edmonton because of heroin coming from Burma. We are told that the regime is very much a party to that trade.

Q: What methods of pressure are you considering?

A: We unilaterally imposed an investment ban in 1998. We ask companies not to do business in Burma. We require all exports from Canada to Burma to have an export permit, and currently only humanitarian goods receive export approval. At the moment there is not much we can do in terms of economic measures. We discourage Canadian companies from investing in Burma and we call on companies already doing business there to halt their businesses dealings with the current regime.

Q: How effective have the measures taken by the Canadian government thus far been in bringing about change in Burma?

A: Well, at the moment, the government of Canada is having foreign policy discussions, and we are looking at how we can strengthen the emergence of corporate social responsibility. If there is success in this area, we will tighten the law. Then perhaps we can say Canadian companies are not allowed to do business with a regime like Burma's.

Q: At this point in time, the Canadian government calls on Canadian companies to refrain from doing business with Burma. However, it seems to me that they do not heed this call. Trade with Burma has increased and investment is on the same path. Even large investment, such as Ivanhoe Mines' expansion, continues. Should the government have a stronger role in bringing companies into conformity with government policy? Do you feel the policy's implementation is deficient?

A: Thank you for raising this matter. It is my understanding that Ivanhoe has been operating a copper mine as a joint venture with the Burmese military government since the mid 1990s. I recently met with a senior executive from Ivanhoe Mines and reiterated our position that Canadian companies should not do business in Burma. I also reminded the Ivanhoe executive about the nature of government in Rangoon. We cannot support this project.

Q: When I interviewed you a year ago, you indicated you would be visiting Southeast Asian countries, including Burma. But, I don't think you have gone to Burma.

A: No, and thank you for raising this, too. I would be happy to visit Aung San Suu Kyi. But it is my understanding that she does not want people like me to travel to Rangoon. It is her wish that senior officials from different governments not come to Burma at this point. If a time comes when the government is treating her better and treating the people better, then I would be delighted to go. But until we get a signal from her, and from other people, no senior officials from the Canadian government will be travelling to Burma. We are not going look like we are supporting the military government.

Q: Do you have any alternative approaches planned, at least regarding the release of more political prisoners and the attainment of fundamental human rights in Burma?

A: They do have their ambassador here and I have been talking with him. I told him, and I think I wrote a letter as well, that we want these political prisoners released. Some of them were released, but not nearly enough. As I said earlier, there are over a thousand political prisoners in Burma. It is absolutely unacceptable that these people are kept in jail because of their calls for democracy in Burma.

I assume that the ambassador passed the message on to his bosses in Rangoon.

I wish they realized that the pressure from Canada is going to increase until they start to have a meaningful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders in Burma.

Q: I notice that the Canadian government has provided humanitarian assistance to Burmese refugees.

A: Yes indeed, and we will continue to do that. What is happening on the border and in these camps is tragic. I think I heard there are 170,000 people in these camps now. It is terrible. These people were driven out of their country by a government that doesn't seem to have any sense of dignity or compassion for the people of the country. They talk about reconstruction but what they are doing is destruction.

Q: Even so, you are not considering any new measures, right?

A: Not at the moment. It is possible that after our foreign policy review we may have some stronger legislation, which we may be able to apply. We can do even more against the regime in Rangoon.

Q: Finally, do you have a message that you would like delivered to Burma?

A: To the people I would say please keep up your courage, your hope and your struggle for democracy. I wouldn't ask anyone to risk their lives. But please, don't give up. Democracy is sweeping the world. The president of South Korea pointed out recently that what happened in the twentieth century was that democracy swept over most of the world. I am sure it will sweep over Burma, too. And I can see a day when Aung San Suu Kyi will be the democratically elected leader of Burma.

Portions of this interview were previously broadcast on Voice of America (Burmese Service).