Letter: Heartless Generals

Fri, 05/16/2008 12:49 PM  |  Reader's Forum

It looks like those Burmese Generals are simply out of their minds. How can they proceed with a referendum when half of the country is still under water, and when rotten corpses continue to float throughout the countryside. The referendum to ratify a new constitution is a mockery of Democracy, and the timing is terrible.

ASEAN's so-called constructive engagement with the military regime over the years has not borne fruit. Isn't it time for the other members of ASEAN countries to unite and send a strong message to the junta to allow humanitarian aid to reach the hungry masses immediately.

If the need arises, ASEAN should not hesitate to remove Burma (or Myanmar) from the membership.

Is the U.N. so helpless that it cannot intervene for humanity's sake? Burmese people have suffered enough, and on top of that comes the monumental havoc caused by the cyclone.

If the military junta refuses to yield, the U.N. Security Council should convene immediately and pass a resolution to send U.N. forces to remove the regime from power, although some countries would veto such a resolution.

Even a draft resolution would serve as a strong warning to the junta to heed the call of the world body. Let some good come of this humanitarian disaster.

I would like to recall the words of Albert Einstein: "The world is too dangerous a place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."

D. CHANDRAMOULI
Jakarta

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.