Sanctions on repressive governments only hurt their impoverished citizens

Dear Editor,

Sanctions, trade embargoes, the freezing of assets, etc, are some of the strategies employed by the UN and USA against governments that seem not to conform to the dictates of the USA.

But do these strategies obtain the desired results, or are they hurting the very people that they are intended to help? Unfolding events in Burma, for example, seem to support the latter; the poor are the ones that are always on the receiving end.

Those in the corridors of power will ensure that they continue to enjoy living luxurious life-styles.

Sanctions and related strategies do not work the way the architects hoped; it seems that the burden of removing a government has been shifted to the affected populace who respond by organizing mass demonstrations, protests and marching through the streets to effect changes.

But these are either military governments, or have entrenched themselves with strong and loyal military support and are able to crush any opposition by mass arrests, beatings, killings and the detention of protesters.

The current Burma experience speaks volumes about this. In Cuba, Iraq and Zimbabwe the world has watched the sufferings of the poor women and children – especially in the latter two countries. The UN and EU must now think of effective ways of dealing with repressive regimes without causing more serious consequences for the poor and vulnerable. The majority of the population should not suffer at the hands of a minority or a group of people that the USA or UN do not favour.

President Bush consistently calls for the spread of democracy at all of his UN speeches. He said, “this great institution must work for the great purpose, to free people from tyranny and violence, hunger and disease, illiteracy and ignorance and poverty and despair.”

However, I disagree with the President who refused to recognize the democratically elected Hamas government and thus caused hunger, disease, poverty and despair for Gaza citizens. At least respect the wishes of the electorate.

While the USA is spending our US$400M daily on the Iraq war, millions are living in despair and hunger in many countries.

This world can be a better place to live if the developed states can ease some of the trade restrictions, quotas and barriers on developing countries’ products, and increase the prices paid for these.

Then those countries will also develop, the citizens will be happy, the governments can respond to natural and other disasters and the exodus of people to the developed world will be minimized.

Yours faithfully,

D. Singh