Burma Today Interview with Jemery Woodrum ( Director, US Campaign for Burma )

Burma Today, Feburary 17 2004

As human rights abuses get more and more systematic, severe and widespread in Burma, democratic forces need to get stronger to free Burma sooner rather than later. Campaigns of various forms have been waged in order to weaken Burma's dictators. They have been proven to be successful when dictators' sources of income are effectively blocked through economic sanctions.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," said Martin Luther King Jr. That notion in action can clearly be seen in the people like Jeremy who actively involves in fighting for the freedom and democracy in Burma. Burma Today honors him. Read on for his interview with Burma Today.

First, I like to ask you how you have come to get interested in Burma's politics?

I became interested in Burma while listening to a speech by Ohmar Khin when I was a student at American University in 1995. She’s a very inspiring person and an effective speaker. Almost everywhere she travels, people get involved and want to help. After hearing her speech, I read a few books in the library. One thing led to another, and I ended up spending two summers interning in Thailand with the ABSDF and EarthRights International. After meeting many heroic Burmese people in Thailand, I decided to get even more involved.

Even though you have other choices that can provide you with more money, better living standard, you choose Burma's politics as your career. Why?

I believe that Americans have a responsibility to ensure that our government has a responsible foreign policy that supports human rights, democracy and other common values. I also know that the struggle for freedom in Burma is not only for the Burmese people, but for all of humanity. I firmly believe that the Burmese people will win their freedom. As a friend of mine says, there are over 50,000,000 Burmese people and only a few thousand top leaders of the military. It is only a matter of time before all of Burma will live in freedom.

Why was USCB formed? What does USCB do?

US Campaign for Burma, a membership-based organization led by a board of directors and staff, works to support human rights, freedom, and democracy in Burma. We are specifically focused on calling for international political and economic sanctions on Burma’s military regime and working to ensure that victims of human rights abuses see some kind of justice. We support 100% Aung San Suu Kyi and the democratically elected leaders of Burma, the National League for Democracy. We also support all the Burmese peoples who are struggling for freedom.

What is USCB aiming to accomplish? Is it focused on campaigns related only to U.S. government and people in the U.S? Or, will it also involve internationally?

We mainly focus on United States, but we work in coalition with other Burma democracy groups around the world. We are a grassroots group, which means that practically anyone can join the organization and can run for our board of directors. We believe that the key to rallying international pressure is organizing citizens in mass in key countries.

Tell me your expectation as to what extent does your organization can bring success?

We believe that the world community should pressure Burma’s military regime to engage in tri-partite dialogue with the National League for Democracy and Burma’s ethnic groups. As for our part, we want to rally citizens and Burmese dissidents-in-exile to encourage the United States government to lead this effort.

What do you think is the level of interest U.S. government and U.S. citizens have in Burma's democracy cause?

The US Congress stands firmly behind Burma’s democracy movement, but there is room for improvement. We really want the US to assume an active leadership role on Burma, and that includes working with US allies. As for citizens, there is not yet enough awareness in Burma in the United States. If more and more citizens get involved and work together, the US government will be more active as well. As a grassroots organization, we believe in people power.

How do you see Aung San Suu Kyi? What is your opinion about Aung San Suu Kyi ?

Aung San Suu Kyi is a hero not only for the Burmese, but for people around the world. The Burmese people are very lucky to have her—many struggles around the world do not have a recognized person that embodies the aspirations of a movement. In the case of Burma, she serves as a rallying point. She is also very modest, and everyone knows she wants the world community to recognize other Burmese democracy leaders as well.

That western nations want to subsidize Burma politically is the sole reason they support Aung San Suu Kyi. How do you want to respond to that?

The West has no interest in colonizing Burma. That is just an excuse the military regime uses to stay in power. Burma as a colony ended over fifty years ago.

There are accusations on Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD, such as they do no development works but destructive and destabilizing campaigns. What do you think of such accusations?

This is nonsensical. How can the NLD do work when the regime refuses to permit its members to meet? How can the NLD support development when its people are being slaughtered. You can’t have development without human rights, and that is a notion that I think more and more of the world is beginning to realize.

Non-Burmans who are involved in Burma's politics are viewed by some as the ones who see what they do as merely a job and nothing more than a job that provides a living without substantial interest invested in the cause. How do you want to respond to that?

I’m not really worried about that opinion because I don’t think it is held by many people. I greatly enjoy and am honored to work with the Burmese people and have made so many wonderful relationships. I also believe that views should be based on an assessment of policy, character, and integrity--not on the color of one’s skin.

There are comments on financial helps from foreign countries. Such financial helps are dedicated to the citizens of the donor countries rather than to Burmans who are truly in need. How do you want to respond?

Without knowing all the details, I think that’s probably both right and wrong. Of course, countries usually act in their own self-interest. On that point, I think the challenge is to find where the interests of donors and recipients run together, though I imagine that is easier said than done. At the same time, as someone responsible for raising money, I understand the frustration of finding funds to run campaigns. I know this is even harder for people who need donations and support for survival. We need to find several billionaires to support a free Burma!

Western countries' contribution to Burma is nothing more than a lip service. They actually do not help. What do you want to say to those who say so?

The US contribution to Burma’s struggle is more than lip service, although I agree that many European countries do little more than pay lip service. It is the job of Americans, Burmese dissidents-in-exile, and people from all countries to ensure that our governments do the right thing. We’re working to do that here in the US.

U.S. does not effectively help Burma's democratization. Do you agree? Why?

The United States has done more than any other country in the world to support Burma’s democracy movement. Every time there is a case of serious rights abuses in Burma, members of the US Congress are the first to speak up and condemn it. The US funds Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, important parts of the struggle to get free information inside Burma. The US grants more money than any other country in the world to democracy groups. The US has placed the strongest concrete economic and political sanctions on the regime. Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken out more strongly than any other foreign policy leader.

At the same time, the US could do much more, and could probably do the things it is doing now more effectively. It is the job of the democracy movement and others to put ideas forward on how to improve. It is also the job of the democracy movement to help create the political will to turn those ideas into reality.

Western countries' respect toward Aung San Suu Kyi is questionable when they just met her, took photograph with her and nod along and do not make financial, political or other forms of contribution to the movement. It is doubtful when they say they support Aung San Suu Kyi. It is also hard to see what they support. How do you want to respond to above argument?

There is far too much hand wringing within the European Union on Burma, and EU leaders are embarrassing themselves by their inaction. The major leaders of freedom struggles in modern history have called on the European Union to impose sanctions on Burma—Vaclav Havel, Desmond Tutu, etc.—but the EU has refused to move. It’s especially ironic that Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Sakharov Prize from the Europeans, but so far they have refused to support her call for action.

I have great respect for the activists in Europe who are working hard to rally support for EU pressure on the Burmese regime. It’s too bad that there is not stronger grassroots support in all of the key countries, and I hope that changes.

If Americans become more interested in and more supportive of Burma's democratic revolution, the goal will be accomplished in a relatively short period. Do you have different opinion?

I don’t want to predict timing like that. But certainly, yes, a strong and consistent US foreign policy will help a great deal in bringing freedom to Burma.

Americans occupied Iraq and ousted military dictator Sadam Husein. It has been four decades Burma suffers under military dictators. To put an end to Burma's tragedy, can Americans do more? What do you think?

If you are suggesting that the United States overthrow the Burmese military regime, I believe that at present it is outside the realm of possibility. United States troops are already engaged abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq and I don’t see that happening right now.

Regarding U.N.'s handling of Burma issues, what is your view on that?

The United Nations and Kofi Anna’s special envoy to Burma Razali Ismail have so far absolutely failed in their mission and the UN Security Council has, so far, proved why it is all but useless in situations like Burma. Razali won’t tell the truth—the Burmese regime simply refuses to negotiate in good-faith, even after the regime tried to kill Aung San Suu Kyi and slaughtered scores of NLD members on May 30th. The problem is that he believes, and has said repeatedly in public, that there is no other option than what he is currently doing. The truth is, there is another option: he could publicly call on the European Union to impose political and economic sanctions on the regime if they refuse to participate in tri-partite negotiations. He could also use the moral authority of the United Nations to publicly shame the countries that are paying the regime’s bills. There are so many different options—yet it’s been three years and he hasn’t tried anything creative, so I find it doubtful that he will now.

If you were asked to give one criticism on regime in Rangoon, what will it be?

Than Shwe, Khin Nyunt, and the rest of the thugs are destroying their own country.

Finally, any word you want to say to people of Burma?

You will win. You will win. You will win.