Back to Burma: Aus govt backflips on name

Back to Burma: Aus govt backflips on name

By Bridget Di Certo   |   Thursday, 16 January 2014

The Australian government has reverted to using Burma in referring to the Union of Myanmar in certain contexts, a Canberra official said last week.

"The government will use the term 'Myanmar' in communications with and public statements about the Myanmar government, but 'Burma' in other contexts," a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told The Myanmar Times via email.

The spokesperson would not elaborate on why the change had happened or clarify what constitutes "other contexts".

However, the government's foreign affairs website had changed all official references to Burma as of December 2013.

The move reverses Australia's switch from Burma to Myanmar in 2012 and goes against the international trend of adopting the country's official name, Myanmar, which was put in place by the military government in 1989.

While the United States continues to use Burma, last year it deferred to using "Myanmar" as a "diplomatic courtesy", according to Secretary of State John Kerry.

Some European countries and National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continue to use "Burma" as a political statement, arguing that the military government did not have the right to change the name because it was not democratically elected.

Derek Tonkin, chairman of the non-profit Network Myanmar and a former British ambassador in Southeast Asia, wrote last week that Australia's move, which comes after a change of government in September 2013, defies logic.

"The recent change in Australian policy, if confirmed, will neither advance reconciliation between [Daw Aung San] Suu Kyi and the generals, nor help Australian national interests," Mr Tonkin wrote. "It is a classic example of the folly of politicians succumbing to short-term interest on a wave of emotion when a cool head, reliability as a prospective partner and support for the reform process in Myanmar should be primary considerations.

"The reality is that 'Myanmar' is essential on all matters that count, since governmental and commercial business would otherwise grind to a halt. But 'Burma' can be used when there is supposedly nothing at stake."

In 2012, then-Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr announced it would be Australian policy to use Myanmar in official contexts.

''We have moved beyond coercion, and coercive measures no longer contribute to the reform process,'' Mr Carr was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying at a press conference announcing the lifting of sanctions against Myanmar.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/back-to-burma-aus-govt-backflips-on-name/