Australia increases aid to Burma

Linda Mottram

Last Updated: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:43:00 +1100

Australia has pledged a 40 per cent increase in humanitarian aid to Burma over the next three years, saying the country can't be allowed to decay completely while waiting for political change.

Foreign minister Stephen Smith has announced that aid focussed on health, education and agriculture will rise from $US26 million dollars now, to around $US43 million.

Mr Smith says it's in line with the change of US policy that calls for engagement as well as sanctions to try to bring the reclusive regime out of its isolation and to ease harsh repression.

But with elections due later this year, Mr Smith told Parliament the aid pledge was not a reward for the generals.

"Australia and the international community stand ready to assist Burma, but it is not a one-way street."

"Australia urges the Burmese authorities to respond in good faith both to international engagement and to Aung San Suu Kyi's recent approach to it on sanctions and on dialogue."

Concerns

But the Australian Opposition's Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop has expressed some concern over the increase in aid.

"I remind [Parliament] that, in 2008 when cyclone Nargis hit Burma, the military ruler's priority was to round people up to vote in a sham referendum to ratify the new constitution, rather than focus on assisting those devastated by the cyclone," she said.

"The referendum result was predictable for it was illegal to vote no. Given the changes to the constitution and the military reaction to the last election in 1990, no-one should take any comfort from the charade that Burma is moving towards democracy."

Doctor Myint Cho, a pro-democracy Burmese lobbyist from the Australia-Burma Council, has also expressed his concerns.

"On the one hand, Australian government should provide more humanitarian assistance for the people of Burma, on the other hand they have to put more pressure on the military regime to change political systems towards democratisation and national reconciliation in Burma."

Dr Cho says the Australian government should impose more sanctions on Burma.

"The Australian government hasn't imposed targeted investment sanctions in Burma."

"The targeted investment sanctions will push the generals to go to the negotiating table with Aung San Suu Kyi and opposition leaders and ethnic leaders for national reconciliation."

"I strongly believe that the Burmese generals are very skilled in using delay and diversion tactics to hoodwink international community including the Australian government to think that they are doing good job for the people of Burma."

Dr Cho says he believes the coming elections, if held, won't be able bring democracy to the country because he says the constitution of 2008 is designed to legitimise military rule.

Nuclear interest

Meanwhile, Australia has confirmed that Burma's military regime is interested in joining the regional nuclear safeguards body, the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network.

The body is currently chaired by Australia.

Burma's interest in membership was revealed by the Washington-based non-government body, the Institute for Science and International Security, amid ongoing international concern that Burma's reclusive rulers might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapons program with North Korean assistance.

Other regional states are thought to be sceptical about Burma's intentions with possible membership of the safeguards network, though some experts argue for engagement.

Australia's Foreign Affairs Department says no formal request to join has been received from Burma and so it hasn't been considered.

Australia says if the matter arises, it'll be considered in consultation with other members of the network, which makes it's decisions by consensus.