NEWS DAY | Burma: Engagemenet

The U.S. policy of engagement in Burma (Myanmar) has sent two high-ranking diplomats for a two-day visit. They will talk with both government and opposition representatives, including a meeting with jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. NPR reports:

The United States has long imposed tough political and economic sanctions meant to force Myanmar’s generals to respect human rights, release imprisoned political activists and make democratic reforms.

Washington has said it will maintain the sanctions until talks with Myanmar’s generals result in change.

Burma has been ruled by the military since 1962, and Suu Kyi has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years. She was elected Prime Minister in 1990, but the military did not allow her to take office. BBC quoted opposition leaders:

“We see this visit as the start of direct engagement between the US and Burma government,” Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party (NLD), told AFP news agency.

“But we do not expect the exact and big change from this meeting. This visit is just a first stage.”

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Mary Turck

Mary Tuck is the editor of the TC Daily Planet.