Should I go to Fiji…………?

With the Aussie and Kiwi Governments imposing travel advisories on travel to Fiji, which are in reality sanctions because they do not want their countrymen to visit an country with a non-democratically elected Government, I came across an interesting article in www.lostweekend.tv that may help put in context and perspective the ridiculousness of the Aussie and Kiwis response.

The article says: –

Burma is a country rich and diverse in culture.  Its 50 million or so people are made up of twelve different ethnicities, each with their own art, customs and traditions, but all are warm and welcoming.  This is mainly because this is just how the people are, but is may also be down to the crisis that the country is facing, causing the Burmese people to see each foreign face as a glimmer of hope, especially as the country is still considered “off the beaten track”.

Like the countries it borders with (Laos and Thailand amongst others), Burma has some breath taking scenery, with huge, horizon spanning lakes, vast, forested valleys and country side ideal for long treks. Unlike other South East Asian countries, the people here won’t try to immediately make a fast buck out of you.

This is even true in the cities, such as Yangon, where old British colonial style still retains its charm despite the decay which often signals economic hardship.

So with Burma sounding like a dream, why should whether to go or not be a consideration?

It’s all down to the government.

Burma or Myanmar as the country is officially called, has been under military rule since a junta overthrew the people-elected civilian government in 1962 and the human rights abuses that have followed in the wake of this coup are unprecedented in this part of the world.

Many ethnic groups have been targeted by the government in the last 40 years, causing over half a million people to be displaced into surrounding countries.

The Myanmar government has systematically attacked villages, torturing and murdering civilians and driving them from their homes.  There have also been reports of civilians being put into forced-labour camps.

According to Aung San Suu Kyi, the noted human rights activist who has been under house arrest at the hands of the Myanmar government since 1989, to visit Myanmar is to validate the governments action.

By spending money in Myanmar, you are directly filling the junta’s coffers and indirectly funding their human rights abuses.  As someone who has been campaigning for the human right of her people for most of her adult life, she does have a point.

However, there is another side to the argument.

Tourism in Myanmar is largely operated by the private sector – that is normal civilians providing goods and services to the traveler. The government would only see around 20% of the money the traveler spends.

In addition, if foreign travelers are kept from going to Myanmar, it isolates the country further, meaning that the government can continue practicing their abuse without the eyes of the international community upon them.

It would also stop much needed foreign money reaching a country that is crying out for investment.

It’s not an easy decision to make. If you don’t decide to go, you may still want to help by reading up on the situation on The Amnesty International website or the Burma Campaign website.

If you do want to go, you can still limit the amount of money that the Myanmar government receives from your spending by staying in privately owned hotels, refusing to use Myanmar Travel and Tours and its sponsored modes of transport and by avoiding companies bearing the associations Myawadi or Myawaddy, which are directly linked to the government.

So, what does this mean for Fiji?

The Mole has no issue with the Aussie and Kiwi Governments taking a moral high ground on telling Aussies and Kiwis which countries to visit and as said before DFAT does a great if albeit very “conservative” job in providing advice.

In reality though, if the Aus and NZ Governments want to apply trade sanctions, the application of some consistency is required and rather than picking on Fiji as an “on the doorstep” example, what about applying that consistently across all countries with non-democratically elected Governments by applying the same advisories, sanctions and conditions to all those?

For us travellers, the same applies in Fiji as in Burma with the private sector and the people of Fiji the main beneficiaries of Aussie and Kiwi dollars entering the country, so if you do not want those businesses and people to suffer then keep on going to Fiji.

Ask yourself the question, is Fiji safe and the answer has to be Yes!

Ask yourself the question have any of the atrocities that have happened in Burma taken place in Fiji and the answer is No!

In reality, we should probably not bother ourselves with the political positioning between the respective Governments and enjoy Fiji for what it is, an idyllic, safe holiday destination with fabulous people that we should all continue to enjoy in safety and into the future.

Please let The Mole have your comments.

A Report by The Mole