In the wake of the military crackdown on unarmed monks in Myanmar, the world’s leaders are once again discussing how to deal with the country’s repressive regime.

After meeting the senior generals in their new capital, Naypyidaw, UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari warned that there could be “serious international repercussions” as a result of the recent bloodshed. The United States has already toughened its sanctions against Myanmar, and the EU is set to follow suit.

But far away from the world’s debating chambers and boardrooms where their future is being discussed, the people of Myanmar have slightly different priorities. “We would like to have democracy, but the most important thing for us is to have peace, and enough food on our plates,” one woman said.

Myanmar is a country that is desperately poor. According to recent international estimates, 32 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and, excluding a small rich elite, the rest are only just above it.

Foreigners are rarely allowed into the northern and eastern states, but reports from refugees who have left these areas suggest conditions are on a par with the worst parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Unsurprisingly, the main thing most Burmese people want is an improvement in their standard of living. As a result, many Burmese are skeptical of sanctions, saying they have already made the country poor and will only make the situation worse if they are tightened further.

While they might not favour sanctions, the people of Myanmar definitely want the international community’s help in other ways. Many of those who telephoned the United Nations during the crackdown asked why no-one was sending a peacekeeping force. After the events of recent weeks, some Burmese people feel let down by the outside world.

Of course, there are many people around the world who want to stand by the Burmese people to prove they are not alone. Millions have attended marches to protest against the military crackdown and signed petitions to pressurise international leaders for change.

The language used to condemn the Burmese military leaders has become far more accusatory in the aftermath of the crackdown, with US President George W Bush calling the junta a “brutal regime ... that has ruled Myanmar for too long”. After days without any response, it appears that all this pressure is finally having some effect on Myanmar’s leaders. Last week, Senior General Than Shwe offered to meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as long as she agrees to certain conditions, such as ending her call for sanctions.

He has even appointed a minister to liaise with her about the details. It is the first time he has agreed to meet Suu Kyi, and considering he is reported to hate her so much he does not even allow people to mention her name, it is a welcome step forward. But Burmese people are not very optimistic that this meeting will answer their problems. Even if Suu Kyi agrees to the conditions set by the military, both sides have had such contrasting views for so long, it is difficult to see how they can find common ground.

And to the people inside Myanmar, it appears the government has no intention of instigating change at all. In fact the generals seem to be trying to convince people they are still firmly in control and that everything is back to normal — playing down the scale of the protests and filling state media with images of huge pro-government rallies around the country.

But the people have shown by their protests that they want change. Their demonstrations might have been quashed, but their plight has caught the attention of the international community and become a cry for help.
The pressure is now on world leaders to put their strong words of condemnation into action, and answer that call.

NYT