Burma sits on the knife edge

Coalition President Dr John Kaye MLC said: “We are advised that the situation in Burma could go either way.

 “If the world takes its eyes off the military regime, then this poor nation will be consigned to brutal and thuggish dictatorship for years to come. The military are waiting for international attention to slip away.

“With renewed pressure on the regime, there is a real sense that the military could be driven back into the barracks and the first steps taken towards democracy and human rights.

“This week the Japanese government played its part by cutting aid to the regime. The European Union imposed sanctions including trade embargos on wood, metals and gems from Burma.

“These restrictions give real impact to the condemnation of the violence against innocent civilians and show the military dictatorship that the world is serious about change.

“Meanwhile the Australian government continues to fund training of Burmese intelligence officers and brings Burmese police to Australia for  instruction at the Australian Federal Police Centre.

“The Howard government is standing outside the international move to put economic and political pressure on the Burmese military junta.

“As we head into an election in Australia, we owe it to the Burmese people to stop this destructive support of the intelligence machine and to become leaders in the international effort to bring about change,” Dr Kaye said.