From: vinsight@netcom.com (Chan T. Vninsight)
Subject: The Dark Side of Global Economics
Originator: daemon@media.mit.edu
Reply-To: vinsight@netcom.com
Organization: N/A
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 07:58:32 GMT


THE DARK SIDE OF GLOBAL ECONOMICS
(Vietnam Insight February 1992)

It has been inspiring to see mankind has advanced so quickly in such a
short period of time. The major powers of the world now eschew
destructive confrontation and have established economic cooperation in
its place. However, despite this global transition from belligerence to
peace and mutual prosperity, there remain issues of social justice and
oppression in certain regions of the world. If these issues are not
addressed, success in achieving international harmony will be tainted
and incomplete.

For example, international relations with Beijing following the
Tiennanmen Square massacre have been deeply disturbing. With the
exception of a few empty threats from the world community and a brief
interruption in trade with China, that country's government has been
allowed to do "business as usual" with impunity, despite its blatant
lack of remorse with regard to the atrocities it committed in the summer
of 1989. Chinese Premier Li Peng, labelled by dissidents as "the Butcher
of Beijing" for ordering the bloody crackdown, is again a respected
international statesman.

Leaders of free countries such as Japan, Britain and Italy have come to
shake this man's hand -- the same hand that directs executions and
severe prison sentences for those Chinese citizens who promote
democracy. The blood spilled at the Tiennanmen Square seems to have
become insignificant for some of the world's countries in face of the
mind-boggling investment possibilities that China offers -- over a
billion potential customers and consumers of foreign goods.

Similarly, some of the voices throughout the world that have long
condemned the Hanoi regime for its human rights violations are now
urging the United States to lift its embargo against that country,
despite the fact that there have been no fundamental changes in how the
government deals with its people. Foreigners interested in doing
business with Hanoi have hailed the regime as one of the most liberal in
the world for its economic openness, while turning a blind eye to its
denial of fundamental human rights.

Hanoi has used ploys such as releasing a few political prisoners (while
filling its prisons with thousands of others) and returning the remains
of American MIAs to the United States in order to create an image of
social progress and benevolence toward an erstwhile enemy. As transparent
and superficial as these moves may be, the lure of financial gain has
effectively blindfolded enterprising nations.

Thailand recently agreed to sell Hanoi (its former archenemy) spare
parts for tanks, stating that "a military threat to the region has
become a non-issue for Thailand." Along with being premature considering
the overall situation in Indochina, this statement also reflects
Thailand's naive perception of the staunch communist leaders in Hanoi.

For the sake of economic interests, unusual rapprochements among former
adversaries have appeared: Chinese and Vietnamese communists, Chinese
communists and Israel, and Vietnamese communists with the U.S. and
Thailand. While the warming relations among one-time foes is a welcome
sign for world peace, the legitimization of tyrannical regimes and
abandonment of those oppressed in favor of anticipated financial
benefits is unconscionable.

Fortunately, there are world leaders who oppose this trend, unafraid to
stand up for their principles and beliefs. The Swedish government for
example, has recently announced drastic cuts in foreign aid to Vietnam,
Mozambique and Tanzania, and has initiated that there would be further
cuts unless improvement in the area of human rights is demonstrated.
Sweden has sent a message to other governments in the world -- that
while more affluent nations have a responsibility to aid nations less
fortunate, such aid must be provided with responsibility, with the
assurance that the recipient nations's government is acting in its
people's best interest. In the words of Alf Svensson, Sweden's Minister
of Foreign Aid, "It is our duty to make demands. If we didn't, our aid
might be used to cement oppression."

Nevertheless, Sweden's posture regarding foreign aid vis-a-vis the
guarantee of human rights is the exception rather than the rule, and the
admirable ideals it reflects can be contrasted to "under-the-table"
deals that circumvent existing embargoes -- an insult to the memory of
those who gave their lives in the name of freedom. There have already
been too many handshakes over the graves of brave people who have made
the ultimate sacrifice in the attempt to secure basic human rights.

While economic interests are of universal concern, they also exhibit a
most dangerous potential to close both our minds and hearts to human
rights violations. It is fervently hoped that the leaders of the
world's nations will not be intoxicated by the lure of economic
aggrandizement at the expense of freedom and human dignity, and allow
tyrannical regimes to survive by becoming indifferent and apathetic to
those who hunger for liberty.

-- 
Vietnam Insight (vinsight@netcom.com)
Chan Tran, editor