By Hkun Hom

SPDC’s Gen Than Shwe is descending further into an abyss with his latest move to resume diplomatic ties with one of the “axis of tyrannies”, North Korea. During Ne Win’s time, North Korea was an unknown entity internationally and to Burma it was “untouchable”. In fact it became Burma’s state enemy when it blatantly violated international law by sending three commandos to assassinate South Korea’s President Chun Doo-hwan and his entourage during their visit to Burma twenty four years ago (1983). The President was unhurt but his four cabinet ministers were killed.

Now in a twist of irony, a North Korean delegations led by Vice FM Kim Joung II and three other officials, were charged with protocols for diplomatic resumption in Burma’s new capital Naypyidaw. This is an indication that SPDC’s is seeking a safe sanctuary for its survival as it feels the pressure of being an outcast and completely isolated. Where else can the generals find an escape route?

Worst still, Burma is cash strapped with its foreign debts 1235% over and above its government revenue, according to a leaked report by IMF. This could well be one of the reasons Burma is determined to go ahead with Salween Hydro Power Dam, in an attempt to ease its debt. Clearly one can argue that Western sanctions are beginning to take their tolls.

It is also notable that the project funder is Japan, under the so-called co-prosperity sphere of development of Japanese pre-war colonies, including Burma. However the sweet job of fronting this economic exploitation is through Thailand using EGAT (Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) wearing the mantle of a Thai private company called MDX Group.

Gen Than Shew is shrewd in that he also is obliged to share the vandalized “cake” with PRC through its government backed company called China’s Sinohydro Corporation. In this way he feels safer as two neighbours were locked in with their “fingers in the pie”. He could afford to be seen to be generous because that doesn’t really belong to him. The project is worth conservatively USD 10 Billion and the power will provide energy requirements of Thailand, Laos, PRC and Bangladesh of the order of 12,700 megawatt.

This is of course at the expenses of Karenni, Karen, Mon and the Shan who will bear the disastrous impacts downstream and upstream through ecological, social and human upheavals. It will cause the destruction of life supporting agricultural systems including irrigations network and wetland rice farming’s regions, enormous uprooting of ancestral homes and displacement of villagers, domesticated animals and wild life, and the flooding of religious shrines and monuments, just to mention a few. There is no way these environmental upheavals of astronomical proportions could be realistically assessed and compensated for in monetary terms.

More importantly, the infrastructure development will allow SPDC army monsters to commit more human rights abuses and ethnic cleansings under the guise of counter insurgency operations.

Against this backdrop of Than Shwe’s heavy handed tactics and theft of Ethnic States National treasures, there is no alternative but “THE LAST RESORT IS NOW OVER DUE”. It would be very unwise to wait any longer.