We can support the people in Burma with money but we can also do a lot with priceless willpower!

I can no longer believe in big international institutions who fail to do what they preach. So many international agreements and obligations exist and institutions claim to work, with tax-payers money, for the good cause. Burma is obliged to protect and promote human rights by so many international conventions but is not adequately punished by any of those who proudly state to be a signatory of those international instruments.

An expulsion of Burma from those conventions and international organisations would be a strong, clear and just message of support for the people in Burma. If being a member of those organisations makes real positive differences a democratic Burmese government should be able to regain membership!

At national level it is all about diplomatic relations and much more about trade relations. A country like Estonia for example, that has neither of them, is in theory free to speak up. But likely it has to admit to be afraid of countries like Germany and the UK. Both are among the biggest foreign investors in Burma and simultaneously speaking loudly in the European Parliament about economic sanctions that don't hurt them too much (UK) or acting bravely and refraining from publicly signing profitable energy deals (Germany). So did Estonia, being part of the EU, de facto gave up its right to take a stand in international relations?

The EU, in my eyes, voluntarily paralyses itself in its bureaucracy but still proclaims to use all its energy and effort to support the people of Burma. When will the EU look for new tools to deal with dictatorships? The sanctions work maybe partly but the negative consequences being for example China jumping into investment vacuums likely surpass the positive effects. And by know the EU should know that the generals don't listen to friendly demands. EU officials are also educated enough to read the extensive documentation on the situation in the country, from opposition, government and international sources, to identify incoherences and valid evidence and to make conclusions.

The people of Burma have the willpower to develop their own country. They don't ask for money but they ask for the truth to be known. The main (only) obstacle for development is its military regime, to overcome this obstacle they need protection! Are their any institutions providing People-protectors? Could 100.000 foreigners act as a human shield from the guns of the Burmese army? Can we send 55 million bulletproof vests? Can we do something?

But of course who will be WE?