Thailand pays, Singapore heals

ASEAN is accused of hypocrisy of the participants of the ASEAN summit in Singapore (Associations of Southeast Asia) was accused of hypocrisy. Last Tuesday, they signed a charter in which they declared their intention to maintain democratic values and human rights, but in fact, the members of the association were unable to influence the Burmese military junta after the bloody suppression of uprisings in the country.

In Singapore, at the Asean summit dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Association, 10 member countries, including Burma, signed a charter whose main ideas are "supporting democracy, the rule of law and human rights." The signing of the Charter was met by protests by the Burmese opposition. The fact is that ASEAN members, due to Burma’s disagreement, decided to cancel the performance of the special envoy of the UN Ibrahim Gambari planned during the summit. At the same time, as the general secretary ASEAN ONG Keng Yong assured, the decision to cancel Gambari’s performance is in no way connected with attempts to make concessions to Burma. “We just did not want to aggravate the already difficult situation,” the Secretary General explained.

Western analysts, meanwhile, believe that of all ASEAN members, Indonesia alone is a democratic state and is not interested in supporting the Burmese regime. In addition, as the observers say, ASEAN made concessions to Burma for financial reasons.

So, for example, Singapore still retains trade relations with the Burma. True, if you believe the words of Foreign Minister Singapore George Yo, the trade turnover between the city -state and the Burma last year amounted to only $ 700 thousand - approximately 0.1% of the total trade turnover of Singapore. “We simply cannot work with the Burma in a situation where economic sanctions are operating in relation to this country,” explained the head of the Foreign Ministry of Singapore.

Nevertheless, Western analysts believe that in fact, the trade turnover between the two countries significantly exceeds official data. In particular, one of the largest Burmese entrepreneurs - Thai for several offices in Singapore. According to some reports, the prosperity of his business is explained by the good relations of Tai for the Burmese leadership. So, for example, the son of Tan Shve, the head of the junta, is a member of the board of directors of HTOO TRADING, which is owned by Tai for.

In addition, members of the military leadership of Burma often undergo treatment in Singapore clinics. This year, for example, Tan Swve was examined in one of the Singapore hospitals. Presumably, he had a suspicion of intestinal cancer. And the former Burma Prime Minister with Vin, who died in Yangon in October this year, also spent several months in the Singapore clinic.

The Burmese regime and other countries are supported by ASEAN. At the same time, one of the main trading partners of Burma is not China at all, but Thailand, who buys natural gas from Burma for more than $ 2 billion a year.

11/22/2007 / Thomas Bell / Singapore, the material is published in the newspaper No. 220 dated November 23, 2007.