Viewpoint

The Brave ones At first sight Burma and Zimbabwe may not seem to have much in common beyond their self–imposed poverty. Yet this week's decision of the Burmese military government to release Aung San Suu Kyi from 19 months of house arrest may have some lessons for President Mugabe's dictatorial regime. No one imagines that the generals in Rangoon have suddenly been converted to the benefits of democracy and now want belatedly to recognise the fact that Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy actually won the country's last general election in 1990. But they have had to recognise the fact that the economic sanctions imposed by on them by many Western governments because of their treatment of Suu Kyi are destroying Burma's financial infrastructure and leading to serious shortages of food. The lesson of this situation is that sanctions, properly applied, do work and can bring about political change in even the most extreme regime. True, they also cause hardship for the general population, yet it is often those most affected by shortages of basic requirements who support the imposition of sanctions as the only way to effect peaceful change. The Commonwealth, the European Union and the United States should therefore not hesitate to strengthen their sanctions against Mugabe who daily continues on his descent into dictatorship. There is another parallel to be seen between Burma and Zimbabwe – the courage of those ordinary citizens in both countries who continue openly to support opposition parties despite the danger to themselves and their families in doing so. They deserve our admiration and support.