Burmese Activist Solicits Help From Korean Businesses
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
An activist for Burmese democratization urged Korean businessmen not to just focus on making money but to contribute to the democratization process in Burma.
``We need support from the business community, especially from Korea. If the military in Burma keeps getting money from their business partners, they will not listen to calls for democratization,'' Harn Yawnghwe, director of Brussels-based Euro-Burma, said during a press conference at the Kim Dae-jung Library in Seoul, Monday.
Yawnghwe, 59, took the example of a Korean company, Daewoo International, which illegally sold arms to the Burmese military and built weapons-making factories in Burma. Daewoo officials in charge are now on trial.
The activist didn't ask Korean businessmen to cease work in Burma because companies of other countries will fill the void if Korean companies leave Burma.
Instead Yawnghwe suggested that Korean executives talk to the generals or senior soldiers in the military regime about the real situation in Burma. He called for influential Korean businessmen's advice to work towards democratization.
``We are upset at the pictures in which soldiers shot people in recent demonstrations in Burma,'' he said. ``The generals responsible for this need to hear this, even from business leaders.''
Another contribution Korean businessmen can make for Burma is an improvement of the education system, he added.
``Only 30 percent of Burmese people finish primary school,'' he said. ``If companies want to do business with Burma, please think of how to help children rather just doing business.''
In the meantime, Yawnghwe stressed that the problems in Burma lie not only in military rule but also in minority groups. The number of people belonging to various minority groups represents 40 percent of total population in Burma and their homeland makes 60 percent of the total territory, according to him.
``In spite of different backgrounds, people are quite united,'' he continued. ``The major problem is that the military does not want to give up power and does not treat the rest of people equally.''
He visited Seoul to join ``A Night for Democracy in Burma'' in Seoul today organized by the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center.
Yawnghwe is the son of Burma's first president who was ousted in a military coup that took place in 1962. He has since worked towards Burmese democracy overseas.