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The United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has concluded a historic visit to Burma (or Myanmar), which ended in a determined government promise to continue with a programme of political reforms. The isolated Asian nation has also pledged to “re-engage with the world”.
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, famous for escaping her years of detainment last November, has praised reinvigorated U.S efforts to engage with Burma. She announced her hope that it would set her “long isolated country on the road to democracy”.
Renewed engagement between the two countries comes at an interesting time, indeed. The reforms come as a surprise to many because the election of 2010, which led to the victory of the pro-military junta USDP, was considered in a U.N report as “fraudulent by the international community”.
Despite criticism of their reforms to date, the government has indicated its intentions to flirt with liberal democracy, forms of mixed economy and reconciliation to alienated states and intra-state groups.
These reforms included the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and consequent dialogues with her. Their apparent change of attitude has enabled the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission. This is certainly a surprising venture, considering their human rights record. The U.N General Assembly “strongly condemned the on-going systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms” and urged “measures to put an end to violations of international human rights and humanitarian law”.
However, since the transition to new government in August 2011, Myanmar’s “human rights record has been improving” according to the International Crisis Group.
It is true that the motives of such reforms remain debatable. Nonetheless, government moves in Myanmar have warmed ties with America. Clinton did not mention economic sanctions to Aung San Suu Kyi, but mentioned later that if progress continued then the U.S would consider releasing their suffocating grip on the nation’s economy.
The benefits of these renewed ties are clear to see for everyone. This desperately poor country would have the opportunity to participate in more foreign trade and investment, whilst being able to finally catch up with its booming Asian neighbours. It is said that Obama is determined to increase U.S contact with Asian nations and through this act could even counter-balance Chinese power in the region. Its political, military and economic influence is growing in the region with each passing day. This is a mutual agreement, indeed.
However, concerns remain on its commitment to embark on this programme of reforms. U.S officials said in a press conference that this visit “does not mean a halt to pressure on human rights and political freedoms”. The Freedom in the World 2011 report by Freedom House notes that “the military junta has long ruled (since 1962) by decree and controlled all executive, legislative, and judicial powers; suppressed nearly all basic rights; committed human rights abuses with impunity”. It continues that the “electoral framework surrounding the 2010 national elections, which were neither free nor fair.”
This is a damning assessment, but we should take other considerations into account. There have been “general amnesties of more than 200 prisoners; institution of new labour laws that allow labour unions and strikes, relaxation of press censorship and regulations of currency practises” according to the BBC. Other moves in September 2011 include the removal of restrictions on banned websites, such as YouTube, Democratic Voice for Burma and Voice of America.
Some may argue that in the shadow of the 2010 elections, these are simply concessions to ease internal and international pressure. It is still too early to tell. But, the Burmese government are beginning to open up and improve their human rights record.
Burma is the residence of the oldest on-going war in the world. The conflict has been against the military regime and has included various insurgents from ethnic groups. These include demands from cultural rights to secession. The Zwe Man Hein Campaign (2011) is a renewal of the conflict and remains the greatest issue for future political reform.
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