Hyde defends Vincent Burma sanctions

by Kevin Clare

April 21, 2008

PERTH MLA John Hyde has slammed a council staffers’ proposal to rescind economic sanctions imposed on Burma by the Town of Vincent, introduced by Mr Hyde when he was Vincent mayor.

 “The policy was introduced by the council in 1999 because sanctions do work and Burma is the most despotic and ruthless nation in the world, with a terrible human rights record,” Mr Hyde said. “Economic sanctions do work, and are the best way to make a stand against a despotic nation.”

Mr Hyde went on to elaborate how prolonged economic sanctions brought an end to Apartheid in South Africa.

Vincent’s current sanctions restrict the town from having any dealings with the military dictatorship of Burma, which has a very poor Human Rights record. The Asian nation was under the spotlight in 2007 when protesting Buddhist Monks were violently suppressed in Rangoon, the Burmese capital.

When eMU News told Mr Hyde of the proposal, he said he’d get on the blower post haste to urge Vincent’s councillors not to rescind the sanctions. He believed the sanctions sent a strong political message, especially to WA companies which have dealings with Burma.

Cr Sally Lake, who narrowly lost a tilt at Mr Hyde’s mayoral successor Nick Catani’s chains in last October’s local elections said the sanctions should be retained.

“Losing the only policy which imposes sanctions on a despotic nation would be a great pity,” she said. “Councillors would need to broaden the approach to international buying and take into account policies such as fair trade.”

The council paper, which will be discussed on April 22, said Vincent council sanctions were not necessary, because the council does not have similar policies on other oppressive nations.