Myanmar and Pakistan

Sir: The brutal and repressive military regime of Myanmar has abused its people for almost two decades. While the West has been highly critical of the junta, and has supported Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta has the support of powerful neighbours like India and China due to vested interests.

While Europe and the US see the evil in Myanmar, they support the illegitimate military junta in Pakistan, because it suits their short-term strategic goals. This contradiction and hypocrisy suits repressive regimes, which find willing godfathers eager to bail them out.
The month of September has witnessed huge political rallies in Myanmar and Pakistan demanding restoration of democracy, return to the rule of law and restoration of the constitution. The regimes in both countries have zero tolerance for political dissent. Aung San Suu Kyi has been under arrest for more than 15 years in Myanmar, while former PMs of Pakistan are either deported in violation of the law or are in self-exile. Thousands of missing persons have perished in prisons, while frustrated relatives are denied access to knowledge of their whereabouts or well being. The people of both these unfortunate nations are fighting for basic fundamental rights. State-sponsored terrorism has resulted in thousands of deaths and missing persons in both countries.
The varied response by the US to similar acts of state-sponsored terrorism in the two countries exposes the hypocrisy of the so-called champions of democracy. Denial of fundamental rights, state repression and abuse of the constitution by the Musharraf regime are an “internal matter” in the eyes of the US government, while similar excesses merit a Security Council meeting in the case of Myanmar.
What is happening in Myanmar is unacceptable and brutal, but why is it acceptable when the same repression is unleashed in Pakistan. I can’t think of a single country in the civilised world which will allow a serving general and commander-in-chief to contest polls and yet be termed democratic. Political rallies by opposition groups are a democratic expression of dissent and should not be brutally put down. The West needs to take a principled stand on this matter.
GULL ZAMAN
Paris