Myanmar:

Inter imperialist rivalry hots up

As the struggle of the people of neighbouring Myanmar against army rule continues in the face of brutal repression, the sharpened inter imperialist rivalry over Myanmar is unfolding.

There has been an escalation of efforts by the US imperialists to interfere in this region. US President George Bush has seized the assets of top government leaders of Myamar, and has called for the UN to impose sanctions against the regime in power. The US imperialists are trying to organize a “regime change” in Myanmar in their own favour. They are trying to manipulate the struggle of the people of Myanmar to bring that country under US influence. The US stand has been supported by its European allies.

Meanwhile, China, India and Russia, held a Trilateral meeting in the Chinese city of Harbin at the end of October. The three countries declared opposition to the US-led efforts to get the UN Security Council to declare sanctions against Myanmar on the grounds of its violation of human rights. According to them, sanctions would be counterproductive, and would only deepen the crisis in the country at this stage. With China and Russia having veto power in the UN Security Council, this has put a spoke in the plans of the US administration.

Myanmar is rich in natural resources, including natural gas. Most importantly, it is strategically situated at the head of the Bay of Bengal bordering China's southwest, and India’s North East. India and China contend with one another over Myanmar’s energy and other resources. China has significantly strengthened its ties with the regime in Myanmar in recent years, which have included agreements on the supply of gas, infrastructure building in Myanmar, and access to the Myanmar port of Sittwe. India has struck secret deals with the Myanmar government for joint suppression of the national movements in the border regions of India and Myanmar.

The US attempts at gaining a strong foothold in Myanmar, is part of its attempts to encircle China from the South. China is resisting this encirclement, by opposing the US game plan of sanctions.

All along its borders in the West and South West, Russia is facing pressure of US encirclement. US is moving in to make the former Soviet Republics like Ukraine its advance military posts directed against Russia. Russia is resisting, by among other things strengthening ties with China, Iran, India and the Asian republics which formed part of the former Soviet Union.

India has links with both the ruling junta in Myanmar as well as the oppositional forces. Its present decision to oppose sanctions, indicates that it feels that its imperialist interests are currently served best by the regime in power, and not by US inspired “regime change”. This may however change if the internal situation in Myanmar changes.

The US and European powers, as well as Russia, China and India – all are playing the big game to advance or defend own geo-strategic interests in the region.

US imperialist inspired and supported “regime changes” have wreaked havoc in the last decade for the peoples of many countries. Whether carried out relatively “peacefully” by overtly and coverty supporting this or that oppositional group, or through brutal military intervention, as in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Serbia, what is going on is the aggressive redivison of the world. Various other imperialist powers are trying to block the US game, wherever it does not serve their interests.

All these imperialist states regard the Myanmarese people and their struggles as only a pawn to be manipulated and sacrificed. The people of Myanmar have a proud history of struggle against imperialism for national rights, a struggle they have waged from colonial times until today. They must have no illusions, either about the US imperialists, or about other powers like China, India and Russia. They will surely find a way to overthrow the oppressive rule of the military junta, and establish popular rule. Their struggle enjoys the support of all freedom-loving peoples.