Myanmar wants ties with governments that turn a blind eye to its human rights abuses

I had known for quite a long time that Russia trains Burmese soldiers educate them, etc. But I didn't know that Burma was even thinking of having their very own nuclear centre. Perhaps I should have guessed when the Burmese government started taking the side of Iran in their nuclear debate with UN.

Now AFP reports that the Burmese government is to build a nuclear research centre and that the Russian government would provide technical assistance for the centre, is keen to rekindle the influence it had in Asia during the 1960s and 1970s, diplomatic sources said. Myanmar meanwhile wants to forge ties with governments that will turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses and suppression of opposition which has so enraged the US and Europe, which have economic sanctions against the regime. “Russia’s relationship with the US is not going well,” said Aung Naing Oo, a Myanmar analyst based in Thailand.

Apparently this is a very opportunistic deal for Russia as it aims to piss off the United States even more. The deal with Russia’s atomic energy agency Rosatom comes as ties sour between the Kremlin and the White House, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently accusing Russia of rolling back democracy.

I have never known what to say about the foreign sanctions against Burma. I mean I think I support them and then I see how businesses of other countries that don't really care that much about Burma's freedom thriving in Burma and then I think maybe the sanctions are not a good idea. Especially on the oil, gas, water and seafood deal that the Burmese government has drawn up with neighbouring countries. I mean Burmese people are always cheated out of their own natural resources; you can't buy king prawns from Burma in Burma but I can buy them in Singapore and the UK. Burmese people don't get electricity but they are outsourcing all the energy to Thailand? How does that make sense to you?

The article also reports that the Nuclear Program in Burma is to be a peaceful one, and would be controlled by the Atomic Energy Agency. But this is before the nuclear centre has been built. What will happen after it's up and running?

Will the world really believe the Burmese Military government? The same government that ordered 24 local NGOs (non profit and non political organisations) to close. The local NGOs include the free funeral society, run by famous Burmese actor Kyaw Thu and the Red Cross - which closed down in March in the face of these imposed restrictions.

SIGH.