Preventing Genocide: Standing Up For Truth
Debbie Stothard had long harbored fears of a coming genocide in Myanmar, driven by her deep understanding of the country's volatile political landscape and historical precedents. Her concerns intensified after the 2012 attacks against the Rohingya, where she witnessed the human rights community's alarming indifference. Debbie's activism has been fueled by these fears, recognizing the patterns of violence and systemic oppression that echo past genocides. As told on a recent podcast episode, she has consistently sounded the alarm, urging international bodies and local communities to take proactive measures. Debbie’s advocacy is underscored by a poignant sense of urgency, emphasizing that the signs are clear and the time to act is now. Her efforts aim to mobilize a global response to prevent further atrocities, highlighting the critical need for immediate intervention. Debbie's voice remains a crucial beacon, tirelessly warning of the impending dangers and rallying for justice and protection for all vulnerable communities in Myanmar.
“That official totally did not expect the smiling Asian woman to be so forthright! But actually, it ended up, in the end, they had to put a stop to everything.”
I remember talking to this negotiator for the EU-Myanmar Investment Protection Agreement, which would build a lot more confidence by European investors to invest in Burma. There was just going to be a standard human rights clause…. which really didn't mean that much.
And I said, ‘You need to understand what's going on in the ground!’ And this negotiator said, ‘No, it's my job to protect the interests of the EU, and this is my job, I'm negotiating this.’
And I'm going like, hello, excuse me, do you see the indicators here? A genocide is imminent. A genocide is imminent! And what I'm going to tell you is this:
Yes, you may not give a damn about women, children, and men being massacred and subjected to human rights, serious human rights violations and genocide. If you don't care about that, at least care about your job. And your job is not just to do this agreement!
Your job is to protect your department and your institution. When this genocide happens, when the shit hits the fan, the European Parliament is going to say, who the hell made this investment protection agreement?! Who the hell decided to push through, seeing all the indicators on the ground?!
So if you don't care about people dying… at least cover your own ass. You better stop this negotiation now!
And I think that official totally did not expect the smiling Asian woman to be so forthright. But actually, it ended up, in the end, they had to put a stop to everything.”