Originally published on the CGS blog on September 27, 2007.
The Washington Post has been a supporter of the Burmese people for years and what they have to say on the current stand off matters. However, while I agree with the WP that the EU and the US acted well in collectively pushing for the UN Security Council to consider sanctions, I disagree that failure to secure Security Council action can be blamed only on Russia and China .
The WP is right that China and Russia deserve condemnation for blocking Security Council action – and yes they will have blood on their hands for doing so – but this cannot get the EU and US off the hook. IF they really believe, as British PM Brown stated, that “The whole world is now watching Burma, and its illegitimate and repressive regime should know that the whole world is going to hold it to account…The age of impunity in neglecting and overriding human rights is over” they must work to win over Russia and China. Make this a central issue between the two blocs. China has shown some pragmatism of late when it has been hammered for protecting rights abusing regimes, what would happen if the EU and the US put Burma at the top of their agenda with China? I’m guessing China would feel pressured and let SC action occur – diplomacy is hard work and it is time that the EU and US start getting used to doing some heavy lifting….surely the monks of Burma deserve that much.
