Thinking About Thailand (II): The Burma Question

A goal of this Thailand trip is to visit one of Thailand's bordering nations. When I was there in the 90s, I visited Malaysia so I don't need to head that way. That leaves Laos, Cambodia, and Burma. I'll probably go to Cambodia because of time constraints. I hadn't even considered Burma until a good friend visited and came back raving about it. He made me think pretty seriously about this being more of a Burma trip than a Thailand one.

But of course there is the Burma question: should people visit.

Burma has been under military rule since 1962 and under the current oppressive dictatorship since 1988. Burma's most famous dissident, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for a tourism boycott of the nation until the military junta allows democracy to progress. This boycott has been embraced by many travellers and progressives across the world. They argue that going to Burma puts money in the government's pockets and thus supports the regime. They also put pretty serious peer-pressure on other travellers in southeast Asia who are considering visiting Burma.

But I really disagree with the tourism boycott. It is the liberal version of the Cuban embargo. What does it actually accomplish? Nothing. It makes people feel good about not supporting a dictatorship. But it does zilch to bring down the government. Like with Cuba, economic boycotts are not going to do anything to bring down a regime, especially when that regime has a big time superpower booster (China in the case of Burma). From everything I have read, the Burmese people are desperate for contact with the outside world. It is only from travellers that they receive news from the outside world, that they have any chance to get word of the condition of the Burmese people back to the world, and to learn about democracy in other nations. They love Aung San Suu Kyi, but many disagree with her boycott, thinking that it only hurts them. In addition, you can mostly avoid government-sponsored hotels, buses, etc., that would actually put money straight into the military's pocket.

If anything, tourism will help promote democracy as it will bring outside ideas into the nation. Keeping Burma isolated is the best way to ensure that the military junta remains in power.

So while I am not going to Burma on this trip, I would feel few qualms in doing so. Obviously, it is an individual choice whether to visit such a country. But as a sort of pan-progressive foreign policy, the tourism boycott is misguided, poorly thought out, and does more to harm the Burmese people than to help them.

Also, see this good synopsis of the debate from the BBC.