The outcome was the idea of “Human Rights Training” and subsequently “Regional Security Training” offered to the Burmese Junta. They were perhaps the most bizarre and silly and simply made the Australian government a laughing stock! It was also a waste of tax payer money.

The Australian government could look into delivering openings for “reform” via cheaper, effective and far reaching means. DFAT should think about making use of Radio Australia and AsiaPacificTV to deliver “Human Rights” and “Regional Security Training” to the entire Burmese populace and not just the military regime. Even if the training of the human rights to the military offcials been a success, it would not do any good to the people who also need to understand what human right means for them.

Many Australian expats as well as DFAT staff living in the South East Asia, have bemoaned the fact that the lost of Radio Australia’s voice in this region has left a vacuum.

If not a direct ‘opening’ to reform, I am sure many will agree with me that a Burmese language radio service to Burma could wield an enormous influence to the sieged mentality within the Burmese military regime. The Australian government could start with information, this will lead to understanding and gradual trust, it could then go into training and education, which is one of the best things Australia could offer.