Gordon Blair on Burma

Brown – presumably taking a leaf out of Thabo Mbeki’s book – has a blog on the Guardian Comment is Free. “The whole world must act“, it’s called, and it refers to the situation in Burma.

“Over the past few weeks we have seen the Burmese people once again display the tenacious courage of which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was writing. In the face of a brutal regime they took to their streets in their tens of thousands, marching for their freedom and their dignity. They were met with batons and bullets. We cannot know how many were killed, but we believe it is many times more than the regime has admitted.”

Nice sentiments, Gordon. Who wrote them for you?

The piece goes on to suggest what the regime in Burma needs to do:

End the violence; release prisoners; grant effective access to the UN special rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Sergio Pinheiro and the International Committee of the Red Cross; and engagement in a UN-led process of national reconciliation that involves leaders of all Burma’s political opposition and ethnic groups, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

That’s all very well, but it’s all up the regime. Friendly advice from Gordon. If they choose not to follow it, the EU might impose some sanctions or a travel ban. Everyone expresses their “revulsion” at the regime’s actions, but there is no suggestion of anything concrete being done, or any support for the disinvestment campaign.

This, from one of the world’s most powerful leaders. Writing on his favourite theme of courage while showing himself to be a craven servant of power, for ever afraid to rock the boat or risk upsetting any of the companies that are making a killing – literally – in Burma.

Complete and utter failure of political leadership. The man is an empty vessel.

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