The problem with boycotts is that they disproportionately punish the people we are trying to help. On the other hand, economic cooperation with tinpot dictators only ensures that they and their cronies will line their own pockets with the proceeds of all business arrangements.

I think we simply need to make it a lot less fun to be a ruthless dictator. The western nations need to cooperatively draft human rights legislation and incorporate those laws into their domestic regulations. If there is an alleged violation, let's grab them, try them, and if guilty, jail them. We can do it with narcotrafficers from Colombia - why not murderous thugs from Burma?

Bonzo, Davie, Florida

"Both the mendicant monks and the parasitic military are a burden on a society that has never properly developed a professional middle class."
I beg to differ that the monks are a burden. They are what glues the entire nation together. Yes, they are a barometer of Burma's economy but they unite people through common beliefs and through religion. More constructive criticism on Mr. Mortished's part would be better appreciated.

It's hard to know how to react to such situations especially when you have family in Burma. Also, as for tourism, you're always worried when would a random military representative point a gun to your head. People are always living in fear.

Seint Kokokyi, Toronto, Canada

Burma DID have a middle class which was active in positions in the public service and so on under the British occupation. When the British departed Burma was a comparatively wealthy Asian country.
Unfortunately, when the military came to power the middleclass were actively persecuted and ethnic cleansing followed.
This is standard procedure for any despot as an educated population are more likely to question and threaten than an impoverished peoples who are struggling to merely survive.
Discussion, publicity, boycotts, photos and internet accounts of the oppression do work. The Generals are very anxious about world opinion and to save face.

Victoria Worth, Perth, Australia

"Every people get the government it deserves." I do not see why they should not suffer the consequences.

Frederick Davies, Oxford, UK

"Both the mendicant monks and the parasitic military are a burden on a society that has never properly developed a professional middle class."

Some expansion on the above statement especially in regards to the monks would have been welcomed. Does Mr. Mortished mean solely an economic burden ? How so ? And to characterize the protests as absent of loving kindness seems rather presumptuous on his part.

Valorie Lee, Washington DC

Valorie Lee, Washington , DC

In stead of arguing for or against sanction, the international stakeholders should be looking at on how to end this "reign of terror" befallen on the people of Burma.

Otherwise, they could just throw away the human responsibility or duty to protect the ongoing crime against humanity by blaming country like China, India, Russia and hide behind "non-intervention" facade, which is outdated.

Such privelege is only valid for government that look after its people well-being and protect them from danger and not one that is slaughtering its own people and enslaving them.

SWS, Bangkok, Thailand

Whether it is Burma or Iran- the self interests (mostly economic) of most all countries decide on their punishment of or action against rogue nations. The U.K. and the U.S. seem to be the only countries that at least pay lip sevice to the injustices that the whole world sees. Infortunately there is often little the good guys can do without the support of other nations, particularly those in the same region.

Frank Lehmann, Centerport, New York USA

I'm with Elbert of Bolder here. What are the alternatives? Why woudl allowing business to operate there kimprove anything? Sanctions worked in South Africa and against the white regime in Rhodesia but pretty much nowhere else.

Active particpation of business in a fascist regime doesn't change the regime (witness south africa where active business involvement propped up the regime).

Chine is the only power that can make much difference, and maybe other neighbours such as Thailand, but how much without bloodshed is debateable.

I would like to see constructive suggetsions, not ponticiation, but in reality I can't see any way through this.

neil murphy, cromer,

After a week of high profile reporting on Burma I want to urge the Times to maintain it's watch and reporting on the situation there. It is very worrying to see the state of inertia that we westerners slip back into especially after the bravery and determination that has been displayed by the monks and people of burma. Such a display by the Burmese is because of desperation we musn't let this issue slip. We can boycot Chinese goods and products and speak to our governments and the United Nations with actions not merely words.
When do we get a report from the United Nations?
It is a mockery.
Write about that.
Anything to keep the flame alive otherwise we are playing into the juntas hands. Forget sanctions just don't let the subject slip . Stop buying Chinese goods and boycot the Olympics.
Grateful thanks to the Times for their excellant coverage keep it up

sara freeman, wiltshire, wiltshire

What exactly is the "moral authority of Western business principles" that you speak of? Is it the 'moral authority' of letting nothing get in the way of a fast buck? If so, then I am happy to relinquish it. It is telling that Mr. Mortished seems to think that Burma's problems will magically resolve themselves if they would only they develop 'a professional middle class'. What evidence does he offer for this particular fairy tale?

Joel Lewis, London, UK

Carl Mortished wrote:

"Both the mendicant monks and the parasitic military are a burden on a society that has never properly developed a professional middle class".

While dubbing the Burmese military as parasitic, given its constant extortion of the people and plundering the country's natural resource in alarming scale, heaping the monks as a burden for development of a professional class is too naive, if not an outright insult. The monks are spiritual leaders and has nothing to do with governance, much less a driving force of economic development and party to decision-making in all aspect of state craft.

It is also sheer ignorance to lump the conflict parties into military -backed public and those of monk-supportive mass. The scenario is not make up of neatly-cut camps, as the writer like to envisioned.

In 1990 nation-wide election, population, which were supposed to be strongholds of the military overwhelmingly voted for Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party.

Sai Wansai, Hamburg, Germany

Would Mr Mortished tell us what he would do. He is not suffering under this dreadful regime and typically of jounalists avoids the problem.

Big Pete, Norwich,

But Boycott's do not work at all. People throw about the word boycott far too easily. Its like having a hammer and everything looking like a nail!

http://piquancy.blogspot.com/2006/04/boycotts-are-placebo-rather-than.html

Bhaskar Dasgupta, North Harrow, Middx

I think that if Burma was awash with tourists the availability of jobs and money and the fact that their society would be under constant observation would in itself curtail abuses and open Burma to liberation by alternatives. At the moment the regime is enforcing its position because of the need for order. It may well be that Aung San Suu Kyi could be the best leader in the world never mind in Burma. There is an equal likelihood that she would not be. She currently represents the South African effect whereby one person represents the possibility of freedom and advancement when the truth is that there is nothing, no one to follow. Swamp Burma with visitors, open up the trading possibilities and see the regime lose the vital oxygen of confrontation that keeps it alive.

Malcolm Turner, Alsager, England

Mr. Mortished offers no constructive suggestions as to how to improve the situation in Burma, and he conveniently overlooks how much more the junta benefit (compared to the people of Burma) from the involvement of Western companies. What is Mr. Mortished suggesting, that the West should triple it's investment in Burma, and thereby triple the fraudulent income the junta already enjoys?

Elbert Carson, Boulder, Colorado, USA