Burma on brink of democracy after Visa stop promoting military golf resort

Expectations of major democratic reform in Burma have been heightened after a decision by the Visa credit card company not to promote a military owned gold resort to its customers. The move comes after the establishment of a new parliamentary committee to look into constitutional reform, and an article in the New York Times.

Human rights campaigners have hailed the decision by Visa. “It’s all about Visa’s,” a London based human rights advocate told Burma Tha Din. “Forget about the International Criminal Court, arms embargoes and sanctioning military entities. Coming on top of western countries using visa bans to limit holiday options for military personnel, Visa’s decision to stop promoting this military gold course will send shockwaves through the military headquarters.”

Rakhine Investment Conference: Luxury hotels help prevent genocide

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is reportedly still furious that international media coverage of her Rakhine Investment Conference referred to conflict and human rights violations in Rakhine State, a State famous worldwide for conflict and human rights violations.

“Media should know by now that they should report what I want them to report,” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly fumed, according to a Burma Tha Din source.  “I didn’t mention these problems, so why do media keep referring to it,” she said, referring to one of the worst human rights crisis in the history of a country known for human rights problems, and which took place just 18 months ago. “You’d think Reuters would have got the message by now, how many of them do I have to lock up?”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent 30 minutes at the three day conference, says investment in Rakhine State is a government priority.  “Everyone knows it’s the lack of luxury hotels and lack of exploitation of natural resources which caused the so-called genocide of those whom shall not be named. Investment and economic growth is the solution to all these problems. They have nothing to do with politics, racism or the military.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has also put a big focus on economic development in other ethnic states. The Rakhine State Investment Conference will be followed next month by the Chin State Investment Conference. In Yangon. 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has reportedly been impressed by the case made by Chinese special envoy, Sun Guoxiang, that economic development can alleviate demands for rights. "She believes that if ethnic people get roads, electricity and jobs, they'll stop demanding more autonomy," a source told Burma Tha Din.