What to do with Burma?
The following article was written by Dr. Rosalia Sciortino, part of a monthly column called Mekong Currents appearing in Imaging Our Mekong. The article has been posted in full with permission of the author. See end of post for author bio.
Mizzima News, a news agency run by Burmese exiles from India, reported on May 4 that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) denied having provided direct financial backing to developmental efforts in Burma (also officially known as Myanmar) under the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) cooperation framework.
Responding to inquiries by the human rights group EarthRights International (ERI) about its role in large-scale development projects allegedly marred with abuses and having negative social and environmental impacts, the Manila-based ADB stressed that no direct loans have been provided to this country since 1986. The article quoted the ADB's e-mail reply to ERI thus: "There is no connection of the ADB, either bilaterally or through GMS, with any government project the Government of Myanmar may be implementing, including the Tasang dam and the East-West Corridor highway in Myanmar". The ADB's financial support to Burma as a member of the GMS consists of "rather nominal" amounts in technical assistance funds for facilitation of regional meetings and other relevant events, it added.
A few days later, on May 10, ‘People’s Daily Online’ of China presented additional insights on the construction and financing of the Burmese section of the East-West Corridor. According to the article, work has started on the Thingan Nyainaung - Kawkareik section, in between the just-completed segment from Myawaddy and the to-be constructed final section to the Mawlamyne deep-sea port on the Bay of Bengal, thanks to aid from Thailand. In particular, this construction is made possible by collaboration between the Ministry of Construction in Myanmar and the Department of Highways of Thailand under the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Fund, managed by the Thai Ministry of Finance. When finished, this long-awaited road would link the Indian and the Pacific oceans, greatly facilitating intraregional transportation and trade. It would also bring a step closer to realisation the vision of the Asian Highways, a pan-Asian network of roads stretching from Europe to the Far East.
The hesitance by the ADB and the contrasting willingness by neighbouring governments, to provide financial support to Burma under the same GMS scheme are emblematic of the unresolved position of this regional bloc toward its most 'controversial' member state.
The military regime of Burma (with the euphemistic name of State Peace and Development Council or SPDC) is widely condemned for its repressive rules and economic mismanagement, which have led to decades of political stagnation and to the country’s financial collapse. International pressure is mounting on the SPDC to set a democratic process in motion through political reform and national reconciliation.
