A general assembly in the generals’ shadow

The leaders of Thailand and Myanmar made the same promise at the United Nations General Assembly last week -- to promote and protect human rights. It was interesting to hear the same pledge from one country that’s gone from military to civilian rule and another that’s moved in the opposite direction, but the reaction has to be the same regardless: Hope that they aren’t merely paying lip service to a noble international goal. 

Aung San Suu Kyi, who swept to power in Myanmar’s election earlier this year, said her government would safeguard the rights of the people even in western Rakhine State, where the Muslim Rohingya face a deadly backlash from bigots who call themselves Buddhists. In her first speech at the general assembly, Myanmar’s first civilian leader in more than half a century offered assurance that the suppression of the military era is over.

Would that it were so. Suu Kyi has been reluctant to address the plight of the Rohingya and other beleaguered Muslims in her country, or even use the word Rohingya, a designation noticeably absent from her UN speech. The “official” term is Bengali, because Bengal is the Rohingya’s ancestral homeland, and confining them to that pigeonhole excuses the authorities from granting them citizenship even after decades of residence.

Before flying to New York for the session, Suu Kyi met with former UN chief Kofi Annan, who is now heading a commission probing the interfaith violence taking place in Rakhine. To the general assembly she expressed her support for the commission and her administration’s determination “to persevere in our endeavor to achieve harmony, peace and prosperity” in Rakhine.

“By standing firm against the forces of prejudice and intolerance,” she said. “We are reaffirming our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person.”

For his part, Prime Minister Prayut Cha-o-cha made the point that “sustainable development cannot be realized where there is no peace and security or when human rights are violated, abused or disregarded -- and vice-versa.” This was quite a statement coming from the general who led the May 2014 coup against an elected civilian government, to the dismay of millions of citizens, and not just supporters of ousted Yingluck Shinawatra. In the aftermath nearly 2,000 critics of military rule stood trial in military courts and hundreds more were summoned to Army bases for “attitude adjustment.”

Like every coup leader before him, Prayut claimed his action was necessary to rid the country of corrupt politicians and restore order where chaos had spread. The trappings of democracy were suspended, including basic rights, causing alarm at the United Nations and bringing a succession of pleas to respect internationally recognized rights and restore civilian rule quickly. 

In what is likely to be his final speech opening the General Assembly, UN chief Ban Ki-moon chastised countries where democracy has receded. He mentioned no names. “In too many places we see leaders rewriting constitutions, manipulating elections and taking other desperate steps to cling to power. My message to all is clear -- serve your people. Do not subvert democracy. Do not pilfer your country’s resources. Do not imprison and torture your critics.”

Prayut stood at the same podium soon after and in his speech noted that “on Aug. 7 the Thai people voted democratically to approve the draft constitution in a referendum. At present, constitutional by-laws are being considered which will lead to general elections in late 2017.” What the general assembly was not told (though many of its members are well aware of this) is that the new Thai constitution, by allowing the military to cling to power even after the election, serves democracy poorly, if at all.

(Asia News Network/The Nation)
Editorial