The founder of the Free Burma Coalition, Zar Ni, recently released a statement regarding the negative impact of sanctions on Burma’s people. The Free Burma Coalition was the original driving force behind the campaigns to boycott companies and to institute sanctions. In the first place, Zar Ni and the FBC deserve some recognition for having the humility to reconsider their strategy in the face of evidence that its been unsuccessful. As he states, sanctions are too ‘simplistic’. To quote, “[Western approaches]...overemphasise democratisation above other important aspects of nation building, and seek to affect regime change through pressure and sanctions which are in many ways doing more harm than good.” This sentiment was also expressed by Ian Halliday, a professor at the City University of Hong Kong who has apparently done some research into the issue of economic engagement in Burma. Halliday said this, “At present, too much faith is placed in quick political fixes. Burmese activists and Western commentators in liberal think tanks frequently insist that with just one more ratcheting up of sanctions, the junta will fall and a transition to democracy will ensue.” Although I’m a little reticent to lump Zar Ni and Halliday together in this instance, namely because Halliday seems to be a conservative who also said this:

“Take, for instance, the involvement of Western oil corporations in the Yadana gas project. Though highly controversial, Western oil corporations have created well paid jobs, established microcredit schemes to boost indigenous entrepreneurship, and reached out to local communities. They have made considerable investments in education and health care, on a local and nation scale.”

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