Double standards? An open letter to Murray McCully

The UN can act fast when civilians are attacked in Libya, close to Europe and so “visible”, but continues to do nothing about persistent attacks on civilians in Burma (Myanmar). Such double standards are unjust. So I’m writing to our foreign minister Murray McCully. If you are a Kiwi you could also write to him, there is a convenient form at the bottom right of his parliamentary webpage.

If you are an Aussie Kevin Rudd is the guy to pester Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au

Brits seem to use a rather impersonal “feedback form” for all “enquiries and questions regarding the UK’s foreign policy”, this is also the approach in the USA. Hopefully if you are of other nationalities you are smart enough to Google “contact foreign minister” or some such phrase, but please do consider writing!

Dear Murray,

I am writing because it seems to me that The United Nations operates a system of double standards. When in North Africa (close to Europe as so “visible”) a military dictator begins attacking civilians the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and Security Council reacted quickly to Colonel Gaddafi’s attacks on Libyan civilians. The Security Council passed a unanimous resolution demanding an end to the attacks, imposed sanctions, and refered Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In Burma ethnic minority civilians have been attacked by the state for decades. The largest of these groups has sent a petition to the UN with nearly 84,000 signatures.

The Democratic Voice of Burma summarised the situation like this:

The Karen National Union (KNU), the largest political organisation representing the Karen people of Burma, organised this petition at the request of the Karen civilians. We are asking UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to take effective action to immediately stop the Burmese regime’s military operations and human rights violations in Karen areas. This petition is supported by KNU branches and Karen communities around the world. The petition was signed by 83,950 Karen civilians from Burma, aged from 16 to 103 years, who are victims and survivors of military attacks and human rights abuses by the Burmese army.

Is NZ supporting this appeal? If so how? If not why not?

Yours faithfully,

Tim Bulkeley