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20th anniversary of Burmese student uprising - Speech by Shahid Malik
11 August 2008
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Burmese student uprising of 1988, DFID Minister Shahid Malik spoke today at a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for supporters of democracy in Burma. Read his full speech below.
I join (FCO Minister) Meg Munn today in paying tribute to those who died in
1988, as well as to those who continue to campaign tirelessly for freedom,
democracy, reconciliation and an end to the abuse of human rights in Burma. Aung
San Suu Kyi stands out amongst these heroes. But there are very many others, as
we saw on the streets of Rangoon and other Burmese cities last September. I
believe that their courage and determination, and the justice of their cause,
will win through in the end.
The student uprising in Burma 20 years ago raised, for a brief moment, the
promise of a democratic future for Burma and a resolution to its many
long-standing conflicts. Had that promise been fulfilled, we would now be
celebrating the success of a new Burma, risen from the sacrifice of young life
in 1988. But the nation’s hopes were crushed within two years, when the will of
its people, clearly expressed in the 1990 election, was overridden by military
power. In the years since, we have witnessed a tragic failure of government in
Burma to meet its people’s needs or respect their rights.
Last summer’s brutal repression of the peaceful protests that took place on the
streets of Burma yet again brought the country’s plight to the eyes of the
world. These protests reflected a deep frustration with the lack of democracy
and opportunity that have condemned millions to poverty. They were a desperate
call for a better future.
And now, 100 days on, as we mourn the loss of 130,000 lives in Cyclone Nargis,
we see how the tragic, humanitarian cost of this natural disaster could have
been made very much worse because of the repression of the Government. The
outside world witnessed, scarcely comprehending, the Burmese junta apparently
unmoved by what had happened: unable to admit the scale of the disaster,
unwilling to accept the generosity of others, and unprepared to be diverted from
its bogus referendum.
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As Meg Munn said, DFID and FCO worked tirelessly together in the weeks after
the cyclone struck to mobilise the international assistance that the survivors
so desperately needed. The breakthrough came when ASEAN, alongside the United
Nations, began to engage with the Burmese Government. Since late May the flow of
aid into Burma has increased significantly, and access restrictions for
international workers have been lifted. But while immediate needs are now being
met, 300,000 people remain very vulnerable, and will need support for months to
come.
Many people have worked hard to get us to where we are now. From our own side I
would like to thank Mark Canning and his team at the Embassy in Rangoon, and
also the Head of the DFID office in Burma, Rurik Marsden, and his team. Very
many others also deserve our gratitude, such as the staff of UN agencies, ASEAN
and the NGOs. Most importantly, I pay tribute to the local Burmese
organisations, and countless individual Burmese people, who rushed to the aid of
their fellow citizens. Their commitment and compassion show how different the
future of Burma could be.
Latest estimates suggest that US$1 billion will be needed over the next three
years, just to put the people of the Delta back on their feet – to provide them
with enough food to eat and to rebuild their houses, schools, health centres and
livelihoods.
The UK has already committed £45 million for immediate relief - the largest
contribution by any donor. But more is needed, so we are talking to other donors
to get them to increase their contributions. We are also expanding our regular
aid programme for Burma, working through the United Nations and NGOs. Our
programmes in health, education and rural livelihoods are making a real
difference to the lives of Burmese people. So is our funding for refugees in
Thailand, and to internally displaced people in Burma’s eastern states which we
provide both in-country and across the border.
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The UK will do everything it can to continue to push for international
action. Our lobbying in Europe has helped bring about stronger sanctions against
the regime. And we will continue to call for progress on the release of all
political prisoners in Burma, as well as the start of a legitimate
reconciliation process.
We’re also helping Burmese organisations to build the foundations for a better
society. This is hard to do in the political climate in Burma, but it’s
important to support their efforts where we can. We’re doing this by setting up
a £3 million fund to help civil society groups organize themselves better, give
people more say in the decisions that affect their lives, and help to build the
foundations for democracy
It is possible to make that difference in Burma without giving succour to the
regime. But we could do so much more for the Burmese people if were possible to
build a normal aid partnership with their government. But this is not possible
in Burma. The regime is neither accountable nor is it competent. Its failure
with respect to Cyclone Nargis is mirrored in so many other ways: in its failure
to manage an economy that does more than line the pockets of generals and
cronies; its failure to provide health and education for its people; and above
all in its failure to respect the human rights and democratic will of its
citizens.
As the Prime Minister has made clear, if there is an irreversible and
substantial move in Burma towards genuine reconciliation with all political
parties and ethnic groups, respect for human rights, and a strong commitment to
democracy and poverty reduction, the international community should be prepared
to offer Burma a substantial package of assistance to help get its economy
moving after so many wasted decades.
I pay huge tribute to those who have kept up the campaign for freedom and
democracy in Burma, often at great personal risk. There will be light at the end
of Burma’s long dark tunnel. We must not be here in another five or ten years
time telling the same story. The will of the Burmese people must prevail, and we
will do all that we can to support them.
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