Human rights still a concern in Burma, despite big-name investment

A nighttime view of the capital of Yangon. Pic: AP.

The internationally known Hilton hotel brand launched its first Burmese property inNaypyidaw last Friday. The company renovated a property owned by the Eden Group, which partnered with Hilton for brand recognition, The Irrawaddy reported. Hilton also plans to open several more properties in the country, including in Yangon, Inle Lake and Bagan.

Investment in Burma bya global hotel chain like Hilton is unsurprising, and even expected. The Irrawaddy has reportedthat several other hotel chains, including Kempinski and Accor Group, have already established properties in Burma. Its a smart business decision, considering that both tourism and international investment are growing in the country. Burma is ever more on the map, and governments and the private sector are eyeing it for potential growth.

But concerns remain that, as the country is celebrated for investment and diplomatic opportunities, its ongoing human rights abuses will be forgotten.

Asia News reported that Burmas economic growth for 2014-2015 is projected at 8.5 percent, based on certain conditions being met, including controlled inflation and improved infrastructure. However, the sitenoted, human rights activists and associations urge people to look beyond the mere economic aspect and investigate the situations of violence, abuse and exploitation before investing in the country.

With the current wave of investment, corrupt officials and business leaders stand to benefit greatly if the government does not crack down on corruption and enforce laws against shady dealings. Even if that does happen, concerns remains. The Irrawaddy hinted at Eden Group founder Chit Khaings unsavory past, writing, A US Embassy cable from 2007 described him as an up and coming crony, [who] has parlayed his regime connections to amass great wealth, while most Burmese struggle to survive.

Burmasgovernment is eager to shed its image as a perpetrator of human rights violations. Foreign MinisterWunna Maung Lwin went on record in The China Post as sayingall major concerns related to human rights havebeen addressed since the countrys move toward democracy in 2010, andspecifically referenced the violence in Rakhine state between Rohingya Muslims and Buddhists. A study by Equal Rights Trust and Mahidol UniversitysInstitute for Human Rights and Peace Studies states that the Rohingya are among the most persecuted people in the world, while Human Rights Watch has accused the Burmese government of endorsing an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya.

All is not quiet in other ethnic areas, either, where government violence has been rampantto varying degrees throughoutthe past several decades. The Irrawaddy reported that as recently as Friday, fighting broke out anewbetween rebels and the government in Shan State.

The Burmese media has also been under attack recently, with three journalistssentenced to prisonjust last week. Human Rights Watch criticized the government in June for using intimidation tactics against local media, and journalist visas are harder to come by and may be issued for shorter periods of time than they were before.

Hilton is just one of many international companies that will establish a presence in Burma in comingyears. From a business perspective, the opportunities are risky but ripe. However, it is vital that the international community continues to pressure the government to ensure that human rights are upheld. Stability in the country depends on it, and any company with a concern for its ethical corporate culture should pressure Burma to continue improving its abysmal human rights record. Otherwise, the government and corrupt fat cats are rewarded for decades of horror and oppression.

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Human rights still a concern in Burma, despite big-name investment