Are sanctions toward Myanmar effective?

Jakarta Globe (April 11 2009) posted an analysis written by Roger Mitton entitled “Extending Sanctions Will Help No One; It’s Now Time to Try a Different Track”. The article is so long that might disinterest reader to read it. It’s surprising to know that the article is fully related to my thesis core problem on how to tackle human rights issue in Myanmar. I and my other fellow argue that economic sanctions will change the junta ruling and my gangster opposition against economic sanctions and support economic cooperation instead.

Everybody is agreeing that junta government has done gross human right violation. The question is how to change the junta behavior on human rights issue? Harsh economic sanctions are my thesis answer. In this globally interconnected relation, no single country can survive theirselves by depending on their self including Myanmar. The most successful case of economic embargo is South Africa. After Mandela published the human rights violation stories to the world, US and major European countries gave total embargo to South Africa government which caused severe impact to South Africa. With embargo, Mandela successfully toppled down the apartheid government.

Now a question might arise in your mind: does economic embargo gain success in Myanmar? Roger Mitton says no. After more than decades EU and US gave sanctions to Myanmar, no significant changes happenned in Myanmar and it’s even worse. It’s now the time to try a different track which is opening economic opportunities and economic trade. Under new US government, it is more likely that there will be new approach toward Myanmar. Mitton believe that by increasing interdependence with Myanmar, US and major European countries will gain more bargaining power on human rights issue in Myanmar. China and India has successfully established its economic relation with Myanmar by becoming its major trading partner. But it’s still not too late to change Myanmar. Together we can!

Verdinand Robertua