USA-Burma relations
Websites/Multiple Documents
| Title: | | Burma Sanctions |
| Description/subject: | | Laws, rules, regulations and other documents related to the US Burma sanctions |
| Language: | | English (Spanish also available) |
| Source/publisher: | | US Department of the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control - OFAC) |
| Format/size: | | html. pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | U.S. Relations With Burma Fact Sheet August 1, 2012 |
| Date of publication: | | 01 August 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "...The U.S. seeks to deepen cooperation on a wide range of issues that promote democratization and national reconciliation. In recent months, the United States has fully restored diplomatic relations, taken steps to re-establish a USAID Mission in country, provided support for assessment missions and technical assistance by international financial institutions, and eased financial and investment sanctions against Burma.
The Barack Obama administration regularly consults with the U.S. Congress as well as U.S. allies and friends in Europe and Asia in appropriate ways to respond to developments in the country. The military government changed the country name to "Myanmar" in 1989. It remains U.S. policy to refer to the country as Burma...."
.....This page has links to other US Govt. sites dealing with Burma/Myanmar:
Department of State Burma Country Page...
Department of State Key Officers List...
CIA World Factbook Burma Page...
USAID Burma Page...
Human Rights Reports...
International Religious Freedom Reports...
Trafficking in Persons Reports...
Narcotics Control Reports...
Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions Page |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | US Department of State |
| Description/subject: | | Search for Burma |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | United States Dept of State |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
Individual Documents
| Title: | | Airing His Views - An Interview with Soe Thinn |
| Date of publication: | | September 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "Soe Thinn is the director of the Radio Free Asia Burmese Service in Washington, DC. He also worked with the Burmese Service of the Voice of America from 1992 until 1996 and with the Burmese Foreign Service from 1969 until October 1988. He spoke with The Irrawaddy about the challenges of bringing information to the Burmese public and RFA’s future plans..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 12, No. 8 |
| Format/size: | | pdf |
| Date of entry/update: | | 11 November 2004 |
|
| Title: | | An Opportunity in Burma (Editorial) |
| Date of publication: | | 27 December 2002 |
| Description/subject: | | A call for the US adminstration to help the casue of Burmese democracy.
Note:
Translator added additional information for Japanese readers. |
| Author/creator: | | (Japanese translation by Yuki Akimoto) |
| Language: | | Japanese |
| Source/publisher: | | Washington Post via Burma Info |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Anticipations and Anticipated Responses: The United States and the 2010 Burmese Elections |
| Date of publication: | | November 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Obama administration’s initiative to review U.S. policy in six countries,
of which Burma/Myanmar1 was one, was taken as a welcome sign
among most observers of the Burma/Myanmar scene with the exception of
those deeply committed to endorsing even more stringent measures against
Naypyidaw.2 They were unrealistically fearful that the Obama administration
would completely reverse the policies of the previous Republican
and Democratic regimes. This was politically impossible in the United
States at that time.
Welcome and obvious, but modest, signals, however, had been sent by
both the Americans and the Burmese that increased contacts were desirable.
The Burmese foreign minister had an unprecedented meeting with
a mid-level State Department official in March 2009, and the United
States indicated it would consider signing (and later did) the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Treaty of Amity and Cooperation,
which it had not done in large part because of Myanmar’s ASEAN membership,
which the U.S. adamantly opposed, in 1997. The beginnings of
such contacts moved the possibility of progress forward. The constraints
of the domestic U.S. political scene resulted in a modified policy from
isolation and regime change under both the Clinton and the Bush administrations
to “pragmatic engagement,” essentially meaning the continuation
of the sanctions regimen together with dialogue at a relatively high diplomatic level aimed at the amelioration of human rights violations and
governance excesses associated with the junta. In a quiet shift, “regime
change” and the honoring of the May 1990 elections swept by the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) were discarded...Now, as this essay is written in June 2010, a sense of frustration over the
lack of progress seems evident in both the American and Burmese camps.
In Washington, there is increasing talk of even further sanctions beyond
those instituted in 1988 (cutting off military sales and support, as well as the
U.S. economic assistance and anti-narcotics programs), 1997 (prohibiting
new investment), 2003 (denying imports and the U.S. banking system to
the Burmese state), and 2008 (focusing on jade and ruby import restrictions)..." |
| Author/creator: | | David I. Steinberg |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C. |
| Format/size: | | pdf (173K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 November 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Aung San Suu Kyi and U.S. Policy toward Burma/Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | August 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract: No living foreigner has shaped contemporary U.S. attitudes toward
a single country more than Aung San Suu Kyi. As the seemingly
vulnerable international avatar of democracy, she has effectively determined
the parameters of possible U.S. policy choices. Although her Burma/Myanmar
specific goals and those of the U.S. overlap, they are not contiguous.
That country is a “boutique” issue in U.S. politics – important but not of the
highest priority. The U.S. will face difficult policy decisions toward Burma/
Myanmar following the formation of the new Burmese administration after
the elections of November 7, 2010.
Manuscript received 9 July 2010; accepted 5 August 2010
Keywords: Burma/Myanmar, United States, policy, house, senate |
| Author/creator: | | Steinberg, David |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 29, 3, 35-59 |
| Format/size: | | pdf (447.07 K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://hup.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jsaa |
| Date of entry/update: | | 17 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Background Briefing on Secretary Clinton's Travel to Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 29 November 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | Special Briefing
Senior State Department Official
En Route Busan, South Korea
November 29, 2011 |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Department of State |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 December 2011 |
|
| Title: | | Burma and Obama |
| Date of publication: | | February 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "Washington remains the Burmese people’s best hope for reliable support in their struggle for democracy...
AS Barack Obama assumes the heavy duties of the US presidency, the oppressed Burmese people who have seen little political progress in their crisis-racked country are looking to him to see how his Burma policy differs from his predecessor’s.
Although thousands of miles separate Burma and the US, the Burmese people still look to Washington—rather than the capitals of China, India, Russia or any of the EU or
Asean member countries—to provide reliable political support for democratic change..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 1 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 16 February 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Burma and the Bush White House |
| Date of publication: | | 26 August 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "When George W Bush and his wife Laura visited Thailand earlier this month, they took pains to draw attention to their continuing commitment to democracy in Burma. Publicly, their statements of support and gestures of solidarity were welcomed by Burma’s opposition movement. Privately, however, most Burmese now accept that the US is not able to remove the generals in Naypyidaw. Indeed, some activists have come to share the view that the US’s uncompromising approach to Burma since the ill-fated 1988 pro-democracy uprising may in fact have been counter-productive..." |
| Author/creator: | | Andrew Selth |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Interpreter" - weblog of the Lowy Institute for International Policy |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 05 March 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Burma and Transnational Crime |
| Date of publication: | | 21 August 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary:
"Transnational organized crime groups in Burma (Myanmar) operate a multibillion
dollar criminal industry that stretches across Southeast Asia. Trafficked
drugs, humans, wildlife, gems, timber, and other contraband flow through Burma,
supporting the illicit demands of the region and beyond. Widespread collusion
between traffickers and Burma’s ruling military junta, the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), allows organized crime groups to function with
impunity. Transnational crime in Burma bears upon U.S. interests as it threatens
regional security in Southeast Asia and bolsters a regime that fosters a culture of
corruption and disrespect for the rule of law and human rights.
Congress has been active in U.S. policy toward Burma for a variety of reasons,
including combating Burma’s transnational crime situation. At times, it has imposed
sanctions on Burmese imports, suspended foreign assistance and loans, and ensured
that U.S. funds remain out of the regime’s reach. Most recently, the 110th Congress
passed P.L. 110-286, the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008 (signed by
the President on July 29, 2008), which imposes further sanctions on SPDC officials
and prohibits the indirect importation of Burmese gems, among other actions. On the
same day, the President directed the U.S. Department of Treasury to impose financial
sanctions against 10 Burmese companies, including companies involved in the gemmining
industry, pursuant to Executive Order 13464 of April 30, 2008.
This report analyzes the primary actors driving transnational crime in Burma,
the forms of transnational crime occurring, and current U.S. policy in combating
these crimes. This report will be updated as events warrant. For further analysis of
U.S. policy to Burma, see CRS Report RL33479, Burma-U.S. Relations, by Larry A.
Niksch." |
| Author/creator: | | Liana Sun Wyler |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | [US] Congressional Research Service |
| Format/size: | | pdf (473K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 March 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Burma Sanctions Regulations |
| Date of publication: | | 23 February 1998 |
| Description/subject: | | Search for Burma |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury. |
| Format/size: | | pdf (72.97 K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | BURMA'S GENERALS: STARTING THE CONVERSATION |
| Date of publication: | | 02 April 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary: " As the review of U.S. policy regarding Burma
continues amid signs that the military regime wants to engage
with Washington, we offer some thoughts about the senior
generals, what motivates them, what they might want from
engagement, and what the U.S. might place on the table.
Burma's military machine is top-down, xenophobic and utterly
focused on preserving national unity. At the same time,
senior generals are embarrassed by their international pariah
status and crave respect. Some are concerned with Burma's
ever-growing dependence on China and its geostrategic
location amidst historical foes. Others, having seen a
glimpse of the international community's benevolence
following Nargis, no doubt wish for a lifting of sanctions
and economic assistance. No matter the motivations, a
dialogue with Burma's senior military leaders will be slow,
frustrating, and, within the U.S., politically charged.
While dialogue is unlikely to yield major, near-term
political outcomes such as changes to the constitution, it
might sow seeds for future change by illustrating to the next
line of leaders what an improved relationship with the U.S.
could look like. Above all, a dialogue could lead to
tangible benefits for Burma's long-suffering people, a
worthwhile goal in itself." End summary. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Embassy, Rangoon, via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Burma-US Relations |
| Date of publication: | | 04 October 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary:
"By the end of September 2007, the Burmese military regime had suppressed
with force anti-regime protests that began in late August, escalated in mid-
September, and were led by Buddhist monks and pro-democracy activists. This drew
new protests from the United States over the regime’s abusive human rights record.
According to human rights reports by the U.S. State Department and private
organizations, Burma’s poor record worsened in 2004, 2005, and 2006. These
reports have laid out a familiar pattern of government and military abuses of
civilians. As in the past, U.S. diplomatic initiatives in September 2007 did not
prevent the regime’s crackdown. China blocked a U.S.-European Union proposal to
have the United Nations Security Council consider imposing sanctions on Burma.
However, Burmese military leader Than Shwe proposed to a United Nations envoy
that he would meet with opposition leader Aung Sann Suu Kyi if she would cease
encouraging confrontation with the government and foreign economic sanctions.
The SPDC appears unaffected by sanctions imposed by the United States and
other Western nations. Western sanctions are uneven with U.S. sanctions being the
heaviest. Burma has been able to expand exports of a variety of commodities,
including growing earnings from natural gas production. China and India have
signed deals with the SPDC for substantial purchases of natural gas. Burma also
reportedly earns between $1 billion and $2 billion annually from exports of illegal
drugs, heroin and methamphetamines. Most of these earnings go to drug traffickers
connected to the Wa and Shan ethnic groups; but Burmese military officials have
means to gain a substantial share of these earnings. Burma’s fellow members in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have grown more critical of the
SPDC, but they continue to oppose sanctions. Chinese diplomatic support of the
SPDC and military and economic aid is very important: $2 billion in military aid
since the early 1990s, $200 million annually in economic aid, substantial foreign
investment including new investment in natural gas, and a huge influx of Chinese
migrants into Burma, mainly traders. China’s role is a prime justification for India’s
“constructive engagement” policy toward Burma. Burma has reestablished
diplomatic relations with North Korea amidst reports of growing military cooperation
between them.
Since 1988, the United States has imposed sanctions against Burma, including
congressional passage in 2003 of the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act (P.L. 108-
61) banning imports from Burma (renewed by Congress in 2006). The Bush
Administration proposed that the U.N. Security Council consider the Burma situation
and introduced a resolution in the Council. China and Russia vetoed the resolution
in January 2007 and blocked a U.S. attempt to secure Security Council consideration
of sanctions in September 2007. The Administration also faces limits on its
flexibility in using sanctions in U.S. diplomacy. Contacts with the SPDC are
extremely limited. The Administration has indicated that it would use sanctions to
initiate a “road map” process with the SPDC, but Congress appears to be against a
“road map” approach and stated in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act that
the full range of U.S. sanctions should remain until the SPDC ends human rights
abuses and makes fundamental political concessions to Aung Sann Suu Kyi." |
| Author/creator: | | Larry A. Niksch |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | [US] Congressional Research Service |
| Format/size: | | pdf (214K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 March 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Burma/Myanmar: Reconciliation without Capitulation (a critique of the NBR report) |
| Date of publication: | | 31 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | "The recent report by the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), Badgley, J.H. (2004) “Reconciling Burma/Myanmar: Essays on U.S. Relations with Burma”[3 March 2004], presented a shamelessly one-sided set of arguments for changing United States policy towards Myanmar. This paper tries to redress the balance, and to present both sides of the argument concerning what is, after all, a complex and heated issue. Two “core arguments” of the NBR report are identified and discussed, and in contrast the author develops two “core counter-arguments” for maintaining, with modifications, the existing U.S. policies with respect to Myanmar..." |
| Author/creator: | | Adam McCarty |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Mekong Economics Ltd. |
| Format/size: | | html (83K),Word |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.crawford.anu.edu.au/pdf/staff/acde/paul_burke/mccarty_burke_myanmar_burma_reconciliation...
http://www.mekongeconomics.com/details_team.php?id=4 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 August 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Burma: A Time For Change |
| Date of publication: | | 18 June 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "Council-sponsored Task Force to U.S. Government: Go to the United Nations, Condemn Burmese Military Crackdown on Democratic Opposition and Impose Sanctions...WASHINGTON, June 18 - The United States must urge the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session on Burma to condemn the military government's recent crackdown on the democratic opposition there, concludes the newly released Council-sponsored Independent Task Force, "Burma: A Time For Change".
In that session, the Security Council should impose targeted sanctions on Burma, including denying visas to leaders of the military regime, freezing their assets, banning new investments and the import of Burmese goods. The Task Force also strongly recommends that the United States adopt an immediate import ban on goods produced in Burma-even if there is no UN Security Council resolution to that effect. At the same time, the United States should increase humanitarian assistance to Burma to help mitigate that country's massive refugee crisis and public health emergencies, particularly the HIV/AIDS epidemic...
Among the Task Force's recommendations, the United States should:
* Redouble its efforts with the governments of China, Japan and the ASEAN countries--particularly Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia--to press the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to work with the National League for Democracy (NLD) and ethnic nationalities toward political transition in Burma.
* Strongly discourage Japan from forgiving outstanding debt from bilateral grants and loans until the SPDC makes substantial progress on human rights and engages in substantive political dialogue with the democratic opposition.
* Urge Asian investors to press the SPDC to begin implementing the economic measures recommended by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank as one of the prerequisites for further investment.
* Encourage China to press the Burmese government to reform its economy and move towards democratic governance to promote stability in the region.
* Tie increased counter-narcotics cooperation to significant steps by the Burmese government to curb methamphetamine production, to arrest leading traffickers, and to stop channeling drug money into the illicit economy.
* Provide increased humanitarian assistance for refugees along both sides of the Thai-Burma border, and on Burma's borders with India, Bangladesh, and China.
* In view of Burma's massive public health crisis, the U.S. should increase humanitarian aid, provided that the funds are given to international nongovernmental organizations through a process that requires transparency, accountability and consultation with the NLD and other groups representative of a multi-ethnic Burma..." |
| Author/creator: | | Mathea Falco (Task Force Chair) |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Council on Foreign Relations |
| Format/size: | | pdf (257K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.cfr.org/publication.php?id=6054 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 22 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Burma: Economic Sanctions |
| Date of publication: | | 03 August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary:
"On October 19, 2007, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13449. This followed a
September 25, 2007 statement by President Bush that sanctions against Burma, which have been
in place since 1997, would be tightened to specifically target leading Burmese officials and
impose additional financial and travel sanctions. This report provides background information on
existing economic sanctions against Burma and possible options to expand sanctions. It will be
updated as events warrant." |
| Author/creator: | | Larry A. Niksch, Martin A. Weiss |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | [US] Congressional Research Service |
| Format/size: | | pdf (140K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 March 2010 |
|
| Title: | | BURMA: SENATOR WEBB'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER THEIN SEIN |
| Date of publication: | | 17 August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary:
"During a one-hour meeting with Prime Minister Thein
Sein on August 14, Senator Webb requested a meeting with Aung
San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and urged her release from house arrest,
noting the positive impact it would have on bilateral
relations and Burma's standing in the world. The Senator
also sought the release and deportation of detained American
John Yettaw. Using classic regime rhetoric, the PM
criticized sanctions as harming the economy and hindering
democracy, and explained the regime's roadmap, promising
free, fair and inclusive elections. That said, the Prime
Minister made clear that Burma wants better relations with
the U.S. as well as the ability to communicate directly with
Washington; the regime has tapped Science and Technology
Minister and former Ambassador to the U.S. U Thaung as a
direct line to the GOB. The tone of the meeting was positive
and cordial, with both Senator Webb and the Prime Minister
citing the benefits that improved bilateral relations could
offer if certain issues are resolved." End summary. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Embassy, Rangoon, via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | BURMA: SENIOR GENERALS START A CONVERSATION; HOW WILL WE RESPOND? |
| Date of publication: | | 18 August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary: "Burma's senior generals used Senator Webb's visit to
deliver an unequivocal message: the GOB wants better
relations with the United States. They want direct
communication with Washington and have identified an envoy --
regime insider and former Ambassador to the United States U
Thaung. It is certain Than Shwe believes he has unclenched
its fist -- granting a first-ever meeting with a U.S.
official, arranging a session for Senator Webb with Aung San
Suu Kyi, and deporting an American prisoner as a sign of
"friendship." The generals will look for a response. We
should allow Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win to visit the
Embassy in Washington following UNGA. We should undertake
immediate discourse with U Thaung, including soon at the
Washington level, to sketch out mutual expectations.
Meanwhile, we should renew efforts publicly and privately to
encourage dialogue between the regime and a "pragmatic"
National League for Democracy, while seeking to consult with
ASSK throughout the process." End summary. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Embassy, Rangoon, via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Bushs versteckte Burma-Agenda |
| Date of publication: | | 09 May 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | Die USA präsentieren sich in der Burma-Katastrophe als unbürokratischer Krisenhelfer. Doch tatsächlich versucht die Regierung Bush, das Drama politisch auszuschlachten. Diese Strategie macht die Militärjunta so extrem misstrauisch - Hilfsorganisationen sind empört; USA-Burma Beziehungen; Amerikanische Hilfsprogramme; USA-Burma relations; US Aid Programme; |
| Author/creator: | | Marc Pitzke |
| Language: | | German, Deutsch |
| Source/publisher: | | Spiegel Online |
| Format/size: | | Html (91 kb) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 May 2008 |
|
| Title: | | Change was in the Air as Obama Took Center Stage for the Day |
| Date of publication: | | 20 November 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "...“The US president’s trip means the United States has begun to focus more on Burma. It also means they have the political will to engage with Burma. It’s a good sign for anyone here who wants the democratic transition to succeed,” said author and Burmese historian Thant Myint-U, speaking to The Irrawaddy shortly after Obama’s speech..." |
| Author/creator: | | Kyaw Phyo Tha |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 20 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearings on Burma, 25 March 2004 |
| Date of publication: | | 25 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Committee on International Relations
U.S. House of Representatives...
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA AND THE PACIFIC...
March 25, 2004...
Testimony on Burma...
David I. Steinberg
[Distinguished Professor & Director, Asian Studies, Georgetown University] |
| Author/creator: | | David I. Steinberg |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives |
| Format/size: | | pdf (446.74 K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 August 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearings on Burma, 25 March 2004: Statement by Chairman Elton Gallegly |
| Date of publication: | | 25 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Committee on International Relations
U.S. House of Representatives...
Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Human Rights...
Statement of Chairman Elton Gallegly...
Developments in Burma...
March 25, 2004. |
| Author/creator: | | Elton Gallegly |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearings on Burma, 25 March 2004: Testimony by Matthew P. Daley |
| Date of publication: | | 25 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Matthew P. Daley, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Testimony before the House International Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights
Washington, DC
March 25, 2004 |
| Author/creator: | | Matthew P. Daley |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Dept. of State via Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearings on Burma, 25 March 2004: Testimony by Morten B. Pedersen |
| Date of publication: | | 25 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Committee on International Relations
U.S. House of Representatives
...
The record includes various interventions including a prepared statement by Morten Pedersen, Senior Analyst
International Crisis Group (Search for Pedersen).
before the House Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific and
The Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Human Rights
March 25, 2004...
US State Department Briefing
Washington, DC., 24 March 2004
ASSESSING INTERNATIONAL POLICIES ON BURMA*
International Crisis Group |
| Author/creator: | | Morten B. Pedersen |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | International Crisis Group via Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives |
| Format/size: | | pdf (447K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives, Hearings on Burma, 25 March 2004: Testimony by Veronika Martin |
| Date of publication: | | 25 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Testimony by Veronika A. Martin
Policy Analyst, U.S. Committee for Refugees...
Developments in Burma...
Before the House Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific and
The Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Human Rights...
March 25, 2004...
Myanmarese Refugees in Thailand and
The Human Rights Situation in Eastern Myanmar. |
| Author/creator: | | Veronika A. Martin |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Committee for Refugees via Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Conditional Normalization with Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 30 November 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "Over the past year, Myanmar, ruled for five decades by the military, has undergone its most dramatic reforms in decades.
A new civilian government has begun opening the economy, freeing political prisoners, relaxing censorship, and allowing
the opposition to reenter politics.
The reforms offer the best chance for change in Myanmar in fifty years and a rare window that American policymakers
should not miss. To respond, the United States should launch a new conditional normalization that is far more
comprehensive than the White House’s current policy. Working with other industrialized democracies, the United States
should be prepared to provide a large new aid package, upgrade relations, push for Myanmar’s reentry into global
organizations, and potentially end sanctions—if, in return, Myanmar continues to move toward holding free elections,
ending its insurgencies, and demonstrating real transparency about its weapons programs. Through this policy shift, the
United States could prevent instability that could spread to Thailand, India, and other partners; stop Myanmar’s
development of nuclear programs; and help promote democratization in one of the world’s most repressive countries..." |
| Author/creator: | | Joshua Kurlantzick |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | [US] Council on Foreign Relations (POLICY INNOVATION MEMORANDUM N O . 1 1) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (57K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.cfr.org/burmamyanmar/conditional-normalization-myanmar/p26554?cid=nlc-dailybrief-daily_n... |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 December 2011 |
|
| Title: | | Conditions in Burma and U.S. Policy Toward Burma for the Period March 28, 2003 - September 27, 2003 |
| Date of publication: | | 27 October 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "Efforts to foster peaceful democratic change in Burma, already encumbered by an increasingly confrontational military regime, were dealt a severe blow on May 30 when government-affiliated thugs carried out a premeditated ambush on democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy of National League for Democracy (NLD) party members and supporters. Since the May 30 attack, Burma’s military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has held Aung San Suu Kyi and all members of the NLD’s Central Executive Committee in indefinite "protective custody," arrested dozens of NLD members, and shuttered the party’s headquarters and all of its regional offices. The violent attack and its aftermath dominate the political scene in Burma. Despite significant pressure from the United States, the European Union, Japan, and, to a lesser degree, ASEAN, the Burmese junta has not taken any constructive steps to resolve the crisis or to begin a real dialogue with the NLD and other political parties, including ethnic minority groups, on substantive political issues.
In July, President Bush signed the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 and the U.S. imposed significant additional economic sanctions on Burma. These new measures, which complement a ban on new investment in Burma and other existing sanctions, prohibit the import of any Burmese product into the United States, ban the provision of financial services to Burma, and freeze the assets of designated Burmese institutions, including the State Peace and Development Council. In addition, in June, the Department of State expanded the scope of an existing visa ban that targets Burmese officials and others who inhibit a transition to democracy to include all officials of the government-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Association and the managers of state-owned enterprises and their immediate family members. On September 9, President Bush imposed further trafficking in persons-related sanctions on Burma, barring U.S. funding for Burmese government officials or employees in educational and cultural exchange programs.
Absent significant progress toward a political transition, the U.S. will coordinate with the European Union and others to maintain pressure on the Burmese junta to make such progress. The European Union has expanded the scope of its asset freeze and visa restrictions; Canada has also imposed visa restrictions. Japan has frozen new development assistance to the junta. Should the SPDC fail to release a significant number of political prisoners or improve its human rights record, and should it continue to inhibit a meaningful political dialogue with the democratic opposition, the U.S. will consider additional measures in conjunction with the international community..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Dept. of State: Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 27 October 2003 |
|
| Title: | | CONTINUING THE PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY IN BURMA RANGOON |
| Date of publication: | | 14 July 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "...Embassy Rangoon pol/econ chief departs Post this week after ending a two-year tour that saw the largest political uprising in Burma in twenty years, the arrest and imprisonment of the pro-democracy opposition’s most talented leaders, and the worst natural disaster in Burma’s recorded history. We asked her to share her candid observations on the current political situation, and her recommendations on how best to advance our democratic goals..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Embassy, Rangoon, via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | CSIS Myanmar Trip Report STATE OF THE NATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY |
| Date of publication: | | 10 September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | SUMMARY:
"In August 2012, a group of senior CSIS Asia specialists visited Myanmar to explore the political, economic, and social reforms launched by the new civilian government and develop policy recommendations for the U.S. government. The trip is part of a Myanmar Project launched by CSIS and funded in part by the C.V. Starr Foundation. The CSIS delegation was led by Ernest Bower, director and senior adviser, Southeast Asia Program, and included Michael Green, senior vice president and Japan Chair, Christopher Johnson, senior adviser and Freeman Chair in China Studies, and Murray Hiebert, deputy director and senior fellow, Southeast Asia Program. Eileen Pennington, deputy director of the Women’s Empowerment Program at the Asia Foundation, accompanied the group as an observer.
Myanmar is in the early stages of moving toward transformational change in nearly all respects, including political and economic reform, the opening of space for civil society, empowerment of women, defining foreign policy and national security priorities, and finding a path to reconciliation with its diverse ethnic groups. However, there was evidence that significant challenges remain with respect to governance and reconciliation with ethnic minorities and that rights abuses continue in some areas, despite the overall positive direction from the leadership of the new government. Real change appears to be under way, but it is not irreversible.
Myanmar’s government, opposition leaders, civil society groups, and business leaders all emphasized that there is an urgency and immediacy around the process of change in their country. The United States should be aware that there are important, perhaps even historic, opportunities to promote and support reform. It needs also to be aware of substantial threats to reform and transparency. Developing a policy to navigate through these opportunities and challenges will require thoughtful consideration and intense focus. Actions the United States takes in Myanmar are intrinsically linked to the U.S. relationship with ASEAN and its broader Asia Pacific regional strategy.
This report provides an executive summary of the CSIS team’s perspectives, shares its findings, and makes near-term recommendations for U.S. policy relating to Myanmar." |
| Author/creator: | | Ernest Bower, Michael Green, Christopher Johnson, and Murray Hiebert |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (174K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://csis.org/ |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Current Realities and Future Possibilities in Burma/Myanmar: Options For U.S. Policy - Asia Society Task Force Report |
| Date of publication: | | 31 March 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | Executive Summary:
"In September 2009, the United States announced a new course in its policy toward
Burma following a seven-month review undertaken by the Barack Obama administration.1
Recognizing that decades of pursuing policies of isolation and sanctions had done little to
influence change among Burma's military leaders, the United States introduced a policy
of "pragmatic engagement." Under this new policy, the United States will maintain its
sanctions on Burma while simultaneously undertaking direct dialogue with senior leaders
of the Burmese regime. Dialogue, according to the United States, will "supplement, rather
than replace," decades of U.S. sanctions policy. These talks have already begun, and the
United States has indicated that any improvement in relations between the two countries is
possible only when Burma's military regime enacts meaningful and concrete reforms in the
country, particularly in the areas of democracy and human rights.2
In adjusting its policy toward Burma, the United States must face reality with clear
vision. Among other things, this vision must recognize that the United States' ability to
solve Burma's problems and to influence the course of the country's governance is extremely
limited, as nearly 20 years experience with a harsh punitive policy of isolation and sanctions
have demonstrated. U.S. influence in Burma is unlikely to outweigh that of increasingly
powerful Asian neighbors. Therefore, the United States' priority must be to clarify its
fundamental objectives in Burma and the basic means at its disposal for promoting those
objectives. Moreover, Burma is not likely to rank very high on the list of U.S. foreign policy
priorities in the foreseeable future, so resources to address U.S. goals in Burma will be
limited, compared to priority countries and regions.
The Task Force believes that the United States must approach policy adjustments
with careful consideration of how the instruments that are available -- including both the
engagement and sanctions sides of the equation -- can be employed most effectively to
encourage reform and democratic governance. Through its programs and support for the
Burmese people, the United States can demonstrate that it is steady but flexible and quick
to react to any potential overtures from the Burmese government. Specifically, during this
period of transition, the United States should encourage the process of political development
toward democratic norms; press the military regime to improve governance; and assist the
country's non-Burman nationalities in pursuing an equitable voice in national governance.
The basic means available to the United States to pursue these goals will be effective
channels of communication; focused assistance programs; reform-oriented economic
activity; coordination with Burma's neighbors and the broader international community; and tightening of targeted financial sanctions, if and when necessary.
Going forward, it will be useful to consider distinctions based on change in
Burma for framing U.S. policy recommendations. The Task Force makes the following
recommendations, which are organized into three distinct stages: (1) measures to be
pursued now; (2) additional measures to be implemented if and when the United States
begins to see indications of change on the part of the Burmese leadership; and (3) actions
to be undertaken after real progress has been demonstrated on a sustained basis..." |
| Language: | | English, Burmese |
| Source/publisher: | | Asia Society |
| Format/size: | | pdf (600K) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://asiasociety.org/policy-politics/international-relations/us-asia/current-realities-and-future...
http://asiasociety.org/files/pdf/TaskForce_ExecutiveSummaryBurmese.pdf (Executive Summary, Burmese) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 March 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Current Realities and Future Possibilities in Burma/Myanmar: Perspectives from Asia |
| Date of publication: | | 31 March 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | Table of Contents:
Foreword...
Introduction...
Current Dimensions, Future Directions: Australian Policy toward Burma...
Assessing the Current Situation in Myanmar: A Perspective from China...
From Isolation to Engagement: Reviewing India's Policy toward Myanmar...
The Quest for the "Middle Way": Indonesian Perspectives on Current
Developments in Myanmar...
Japan's Policy toward Myanmar: A Special Responsibility...
Pragmatic Diplomacy: Reviewing International and Malaysian
Policy toward Myanmar...
Developing an International Policy toward Burma/Myanmar:
Philippine Perspectives...
From Proxy to Principle: A Review of Singapore's Myanmar Policy...
Thailand's Burma/Myanmar Dilemma: Domestic Determinants and
Regional/International Constraints...
Appendix 1: Executive Summary: Report of the Asia Society Task Force on
US Policy toward Burma/Myanmar |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asia Society |
| Format/size: | | pdf (894K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 31 March 2010 |
|
| Title: | | DAS JOHN DISCUSSES BURMA, SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH AFM CUI TIANKAI AND DG HU ZHENGYUE |
| Date of publication: | | 05 March 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Summary: "If the United States wants to make a difference on
Burma, it should engage directly with General Than Shwe,
Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told EAP DAS Eric John
on March 5. In a separate meeting, MFA Director General for
Asian Affairs Hu Zhengyue stressed that State Councilor Tang
"really worked on" the Burmese during his recent visit to
Burma, delivering the message that Burma needs to respond to
the concerns of the international community. DAS John
underlined that the United States is worried that Burma is
headed at high speed in the wrong direction. If it adopts a
constitution excluding certain parties from the political
process, the United States and China could be locked into a
cycle of confrontation over Burma at the United Nations. DAS
John and AFM Cui also discussed the United States' and
China's overlapping interests in Southeast Asia. With DG Hu,
DAS John emphasized the importance of Indonesia and discussed
instability in East Timor, positive progress in the
Philippines and the situation in post-coup Thailand. EAP DAS
Thomas Christensen joined DAS John at the meetings." End
Summary. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Embassy, Beijing, via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | DCI, Burma and D.C. |
| Date of publication: | | 28 February 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "The Burmese military regime failed last year to improve its ties with the United States and get "certified" for its anti-narcotics programs, but it wasn't for lack of a solid effort by its lobbyists, DCI Associates...." |
| Author/creator: | | Al Kamen (Tr. Tadayuki Kubo) |
| Language: | | Japanese, English |
| Source/publisher: | | Washington Post |
| Format/size: | | html (Japanese), pdf (English) |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.burmainfo.org/op_ed/dci-associates.pdf (English) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 June 2003 |
|
| Title: | | DEMARCHE REQUEST: REPLACEMENT OF SRSG GAMBARI FOR BURMA MISSION |
| Date of publication: | | 07 October 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "...Department views the “good offices” mission of the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative (SRSG) to Burma as an important vehicle for encouraging democratic progress in Burma. Consequently, Department has viewed with growing concern the lack of progress on core political steps that the UNSC called on Burma to take such as the immediate release of political prisoners and the opening of a meaningful, time-bound political dialogue with democratic and ethnic minority leaders, in particular, with Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK), over the course of SRSG Gambari’s four missions to Rangoon. Indeed, it appears that Gambari’s access to regime officials and ability to secure results has only contracted over the course of these missions. His access to democratic leaders has been constrained by both the regime and more recently a loss of confidence in Gambari among leaders of the democracy movement.
¶3. (C) Gambari appears unrealistically upbeat, pursuing and reporting progress on peripheral matters (e.g., a possible economic forum, the possible placement of a UN staff member in Rangoon) that are a distraction from what the Security Council has articulated as critical goals and identified as Gambari’s mandate..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | US Secretary of State via Wikileaks |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 December 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Einige Aspekte der Situation in Birma/Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 01 October 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Die Zuspitzung der von buddhistischen Mönchen angeführten Proteste gegen das Militärregime in Birma bzw. Myanmar sowie das harte Vorgehen der Militärjunta haben Birma in den Blickpunkt der Weltöffentlichkeit gerückt.
Seit Jahren wird von seiten vor allem der US-Regierung, aber auch Großbritanniens und teils auch der EU Propaganda gegen das Militärregime dort gemacht, wurden Drohungen ausgesprochen und Sanktionen verhängt. Und sie drängen auch jetzt zu verschärften Maßnahmen gegenüber Birma und setzen zunehmend China, Indien und die ASEAN-Staaten unter Druck, gegen die Militärjunta vorzugehen und noch mehr, sie drängen dazu, zu einem Machtwechsel in Birma beizutragen.USA-Burma Beziehungen, Aufstände 2007; USA-Burma relations; uprisings 2007 |
| Author/creator: | | Uwe Mueller |
| Language: | | German, Deutsch |
| Source/publisher: | | Neue Einheit |
| Format/size: | | Html (17 kb) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 May 2008 |
|
| Title: | | Ethnic key to US role in Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 10 October 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "...The present danger in Myanmar is that the US and other Western nations have focused solely on the figures of Thein Sein and Suu Kyi, both of whom dominated the limelight during recent trips to the US. By contrast, ethnic minority groups, including the Chin, Kachin, Karen, Mon, and Shan, have received comparatively scarce attention and have generally been relegated to the margins of US and European engagement initiatives.
Minority ethnic groups, most of which have been disempowered, oppressed and impoverished by a succession of repressive military regimes for the past six decades, now find themselves at a significant disadvantage in bringing critical facts to the fore...
Washington would be well advised to take a more balanced approach to engagement and development in Myanmar and one more inclusive of ethnics, or risk a repeat of the interventions in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. " |
| Author/creator: | | Tim Heinemann |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "Asia Times Online" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 10 October 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Foreign Policy in Focus (BURMA) |
| Date of publication: | | 01 August 1997 |
| Description/subject: | | * The SLORC military junta is a world-class human rights abuser condemned by the UN every year since 1989.
* Foreign investors continue to play a critical role in providing financial backing for SLORC.
* SLORC continues to refuse to recognize the results of the 1990 elections, overwhelmingly won by Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD). |
| Author/creator: | | Philip S. Robertson Jr. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 September 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Human Rights and U.S. Strategy in Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 24 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Human Rights and U.S. Strategy in Burma
Testimony by Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director
Mr. Chairman, thank you for your invitation to testify on the human rights situation in Burma and on U.S. policy towards that country. |
| Author/creator: | | Tom Malinowski |
| Language: | | English |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 09 April 2004 |
|
| Title: | | It's Time to Play the Villains' Game |
| Date of publication: | | April 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "...Until now, the world has been divided into two camps when it comes to how to deal with Burma - those who support sanctions and those who urge constructive engagement. Western countries led by the US have applied sanctions, while Burma's neighbors, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China and India, have favored engagement.
But things seem to be changing.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hinted at a shift in Western thinking when she said during a recent Asia tour: "Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn't influenced the Burmese junta."
But she also made clear that the alternative policy followed by Burma's neighbors is also ineffective, adding: "Reaching out and trying to engage them [the Burmese generals] hasn't influenced them, either."
Clinton announced that the new US administration is reviewing its Burma policy - "because we want to see the best ideas about how to influence the Burmese regime."It's obvious, however, that US policy makers have no clear idea which idea is best.
Nevertheless, a departure from the policy that first applied sanctions against Burma in 1997 can be expected..." |
| Author/creator: | | Kyaw Zwa Moe |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 2 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 April 2009 |
|
| Title: | | King Mindon’s Ruined Vision |
| Date of publication: | | October 2005 |
| Description/subject: | | His “Look West” Policies Are Now in Tatters... "...Today, Burma’s relations with the West, particularly the US, are rocky, and they’re unlikely to get better as long as the two sides pull in opposite directions. Since the 1988 democracy uprising, the US has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Burma, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has famously labeled Burma as an “outpost of tyranny,” along with North Korea, Cuba and Iran.
In Rangoon, the military leaders maintain their critical stance vis-à-vis the West, bitterness and hatred simmering together in editorials published by the junta’s mouthpiece journals, while clearly harboring hopes for a better relationship with the West.
While the generals pursue closer ties with neighbors such as Russia, India and China, they still don’t send their children to study in Moscow, Beijing or North Korea. Before the visa bans took hold, many children of the Rangoon elite were sent to study in Britain, Australia and the US..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 13, No. 10 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 30 April 2006 |
|
| Title: | | Listening to Asia |
| Date of publication: | | April 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | In a wide-ranging interview with The Irrawaddy, the United States' ambassador to Thailand, Eric G John, spoke about what Asia - and the countries of Asean in particular - can expect from the foreign policy program of Barack Obama's presidency. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 2 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 April 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Mitchell Confirmed as Ambassador to Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 02 July 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "WASHINGTON—The United States Senate on Friday confirmed the nomination of Derek Mitchell as the first US Ambassador to Burma in two decades. He is soon expected to travel to the country to head the mission in the country.
Mitchell, currently the special US representative and policy coordinator for Burma, has been a key player in implementing the Burma policy of the Obama administration. “I congratulate Derek Mitchell on his confirmation as our ambassador to Burma,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
“He has done an excellent job in his current role as Special Representative and Policy Coordinator for Burma. His experience will serve us well in the region as he builds on the strong foundation established by Michael Thurston and our embassy team in Rangoon,” McConnell said..." |
| Author/creator: | | Lalit K. Jha |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 02 July 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Myanmar Awakening and U.S. National Interests |
| Date of publication: | | 26 April 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | Let me begin by stipulating my answers to several questions that have preoccupied us all over the last several years. We have debated whether any change could take place in Burma. Subsequently we debated whether any real change had transpired. Now we are debating whether enough change has taken place to satisfy us, on the assumption that we will decide the future of Burma. What nine separate trips in a little over two years have taught me are: 1) significant changes have already taken place, 2) reforms are real, and although there are certain to be setbacks, the reform trend seems likely to continue and 3) absent further changes the United States will be playing an increasingly marginal role in a fast-paced drama in which almost all other nations have dropped or suspended sanctions to take advantage of growing opportunities: ... U.S. National Interests... The questions with which we should be concerned now are: 1. Why should the US be interested in Myanmar? What long term U.S. national interests are involved in Myanmar? 2. What can the United States do now to encourage the emergence of a new, more peaceful, friendly, and democratic Myanmar?... In real estate three things determine value: location, location, and location. The same can be said of Myanmar. It is strategically situated below China, between the emerging mega-nations of Asia --- India and China. Myanmar has become increasingly reliant on China for weapons, official development assistance, and foreign direct investment. If Myanmar were to become a full-fledged client state of China, this would change the regional strategic balance. To avoid overdependence on any one nation, Myanmar officials over the past year have articulated a more omni-directional foreign policy that is equally friendly toward ASEAN, China, India, Japan, and the United States. Beneath the surface, even when the relationship with China seemed most intimate, Burmese nationalism and antipathy toward the growing number of Chinese nationals working inside Myanmar motivated the Myanmar elite (including most especially the military elite) to look outward, first to ASEAN and now to the entire outside world (including the United States). ... The United States could safely ignore more than fifty-five million people, living in a resource rich country the size of Texas, located just above the vital Strait of Malacca, as long as Myanmar was consumed by its own internal conflicts and led by a military elite that largely ignored, and was ignored by most of the outside world. As long as the outside world remained more or less uniformly willing to ignore Myanmar, the United States could afford to overlook Myanmar’s strategic and economic potential while concentrating almost exclusively on the odious qualities of the Burmese government. The world has changed. China has risen. The United States has pivoted back to Southeast Asia. Myanmar is now simply more accessible in political and economic terms than it has been for the last 50 years. Will the United States take advantage of the new opportunities or will it miss the boat? |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |
| Format/size: | | pdf (67K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 07 October 2012 |
|
| Title: | | No Turning Back |
| Date of publication: | | September 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Burma's rulers would like to have friendly relations with Washington, but that won't happen unless they make significant changes...It's no secret that the regime in Burma wants to repair its frosty relationship with America. It would especially like to see the lifting of US sanctions, which have an impact not only on the general population, but are also hampering the junta leaders' ambition to build a modern armed forces...
"If Burma"good old days"1,000-mile destination."..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 6 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 December 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Obama in Burma: A Milestone for Reform or Groundwork for Oil-Friendly Junta Rule? (video) |
| Date of publication: | | 19 November 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "President Obama made history today by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Burma. During his six-hour visit, Obama met with President Thein Sein and visited the home of the opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, where she was confined under house arrest for most of two decades before her release two years ago. Obama’s new openness toward Burma has drawn concern from human rights activists who say such overtures of friendship are "premature" due to continuing political violence plaguing large swathes of the country. We’re joined by Jennifer Quigley of the U.S. Campaign for Burma and journalist Peter Popham, author of "The Lady and The Peacock: The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "Democracy Now" |
| Format/size: | | Adobe Flash |
| Date of entry/update: | | 25 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | Obama speech at University of Yangon - DVB Live (video) |
| Date of publication: | | 19 November 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | President Obama gave a speech to a crowded Convocation Hall at Rangoon University. He lauded the country’s ongoing reform process, addressed the recent unrest in Arakan state and ceasefires with ethnic groups. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) via Youtube |
| Format/size: | | Adobe Flash (34 minutes) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 19 November 2012 |
|
| Title: | | One-sided Engagement Won't Work |
| Date of publication: | | December 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | The Obama administration’s more conciliatory approach to Burma will be short-lived unless the country’s rulers act soon to reciprocate |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 9 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www2.irrawaddy.org/print_article.php?art_id=17320 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 February 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Playing with Superpowers |
| Date of publication: | | November 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | Burma’s generals have a history of juggling relations with Washington and Beijing...
"If ever the Burmese regime made it clear it preferred “Made in America” to “Made in China,” it would be no surprise to see relations between China and Burma suffer a severe hiccup.
China is now keenly observing Washington’s new policy toward the Burmese regime and Burma’s opposition movement. At the same time, Beijing is observing the unpredictable Naypyidaw regime’s paukphaw (kinship) commitment to China.
Burma’s former dictator, Ne Win, (left) met then US President Lyndon Johnson in 1966.
Burmese military officers used Western weapons to counter Chinese-backed insurgents in the past. They have long memories of Chinese chauvinism and Beijing’s efforts to export communism to Burma and install a government sympathetic to Mao Zedong’s communist ideology.
Those days are long gone. China became Burma’s staunchest ally after the regime brutally crushed the pro-democracy uprising in 1988. For the past 21 years, China has adopted its paukphaw policy toward Burma and played an influential role there..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 8 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www2.irrawaddy.org/print_article.php?art_id=17143 |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 February 2010 |
|
| Title: | | Presidential Executive Order implementing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, |
| Date of publication: | | 29 July 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "...The United States has begun to implement the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, which immediately prohibits financial transactions with entities of the ruling military junta in Burma and will bar the importation of Burmese products into the United States after 30 days, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
OFAC issued a bulletin July 29 that includes the text of President Bush's July 28 Executive Order regarding the blockage of the Burmese junta's property, the prohibition of financial transactions with entities of the Rangoon regime, and the ban on Burmese imports into the United States.
According to President Bush's executive order, such steps are necessary due to the military junta's "continued repression of the democratic opposition in Burma" and the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13047 of May 20, 1997.
Following is the text of the OFAC bulletin:..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Office of Foreign Assets Control via US Dept of State |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 August 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Reconciling Burma/Myanmar: Essays on U.S. Relations with Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 03 March 2004 |
| Description/subject: | | Free access not available anymore! The document needs to be purchased.
Foreword:
"An intellectual “tectonic shift” is underway, making a precarious policy even harder to
justify. This rather unusual issue of the NBR Analysis does not stem from an NBR-sponsored
project or study. Instead, it emerged as an initiative from an extraordinary assemblage of
Burma scholars, all of whom regard last year’s announcement of a “road map” for constitutional
change, the ongoing progress toward cease-fires with ethnic insurgents, and the worsening
impact of sanctions on the general populace, as an opportunity to re-examine U.S. relations
with Burma. Recognizing that the current situation may be conducive to taking a fresh
perspective, and noting the significance of so many top Burma specialists reaching similar
conclusions and working together, we decided to publish their essays.
The scholars in this volume represent a range of perspectives. What is especially notable
is that they collaborated in this enterprise and concur that the U.S. policy of sanctions is not
achieving its worthy objective—progress toward constitutional change and democratization in
Burma. Moreover, as some of these authors argue, viewing U.S.-Burma relations solely through
this lens, important as it is, may be harming other U.S. strategic interests in Southeast Asia,
both in terms of the ongoing war against terrorism and long-term objectives regarding the
United States’ role as a regional security guarantor. The desperate humanitarian situation in the
country, as detailed in many of these essays, and concerns about possible WMD-related
activities only underscore the importance of looking at this issue again. U.S. policymakers in
particular ought to consider whether it is now appropriate to take a more realistic, engaged
approach, while easing restrictions on humanitarian assistance, programs to build civil society,
and the forces of globalization that are needed for the Burmese peoples’ socio-economic
progress and solid transition to civilian government and democracy..."
Richard J. Ellings,
President,
The National Bureau of Asian Research...
"Strategic Interests in Myanmar" - John H. Badgley;
"Myanmar’s Political Future: Is Waiting for the Perfect
the Enemy of Doing the Possible?" - Robert H. Taylor;
"Burma/Myanmar: A Guide for the Perplexed?" - David I. Steinberg;
"King Solomon’s Judgment" - Helen James;
"The Role of Minorities in the Transitional Process" - Seng Raw; "Will Western Sanctions Bring Down the House?" -
Kyaw Yin Hlaing; "The Crisis in Burma/Myanmar:
Foreign Aid as a Tool for Democratization" - Morten B. Pedersen; |
| Author/creator: | | John H. Badgley (Ed.); Robert H. Taylor, David I. Steinberg, Helen James, Seng Raw, Kyaw Yin Hlaing, Morten B. Pedersen |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "NBR Analysis" Vol.15, No. 1, March 2004 (The National Bureau of Asia Research) |
| Format/size: | | pdf (261K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 29 February 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Securing Democracy |
| Date of publication: | | November 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "By tolerating strong-arm tactics elsewhere, Washington is sending Rangoon a mixed message...
When US President George W Bush signed the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 into law in late July, he declared that the US was enacting sanctions on the ruling junta to provide "strong incentives for democratic change and human rights in Burma."
Bush did not elaborate on the litany of anti-democratic maneuvers and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Burmese military government, but they are well known. Retaining power after a military coup, holding opposition figures and others in detention without trial and violently suppressing ethnic insurgents are among the acts he could have listed.
Today, the US sends Rangoon a mixed message by tolerating the same actions by its Asian allies in the war on terror. It seems that the Americans want other countries to be more like Burma, but Burma less like itself..." |
| Author/creator: | | Kevin R. Manning |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol 11, No. 9 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 11 January 2004 |
|
| Title: | | Sink or Swim |
| Date of publication: | | June 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | "Can efforts to relax US sanctions against Burma stay afloat in the wake of John William Yettaw’s fateful swim across Inya Lake?...
NOBODY knows for sure what inspired John William Yettaw to don a pair of homemade flippers and swim across Inya Lake to the home of Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. But if his intention was to frustrate efforts to open a new chapter in US relations with Burma’s ruling regime, all we can say is: Mission Accomplished.
Suu Kyi enters the Insein Prison building where the trial is being held.
Of course, Yettaw should not be the one held accountable for the hardening of attitudes toward the Burmese junta in the wake of this incident. For that, Burma’s generals have only themselves to thank..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw, Neil Lawrence |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 3 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 June 2009 |
|
| Title: | | Sticks or Carrots? |
| Date of publication: | | August 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | The new US administration has sent a strong signal that it wants to take a more active role in dealing with Burma...
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's message to Burma was loud and clear, but it is still uncertain what direction exactly the US will take in trying to engage the troubled country..." |
| Author/creator: | | Aung Zaw |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 17, No. 5 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 26 December 2009 |
|
| Title: | | The New Word from Washington - An Interview with Eric John, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State |
| Date of publication: | | May 2006 |
| Description/subject: | | As US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, Eric John is Washington’s point man on Southeast Asia, which includes Burma. On April 28, The Irrawaddy interviewed John at its office in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to catch up on the latest US policies on Burma, as the Burmese regime’s leading critic. The wide-ranging interview covered all aspects of these policies to bring about reform in Burma, US thoughts on Burma’s relations with its neighbors, and the situation regarding Burma and the UN Security Council. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 14, No. 5 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 28 December 2006 |
|
| Title: | | The United States and Myanmar: a ‘boutique issue’? |
| Date of publication: | | 18 January 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | Abstract:
"Myanmar has been one of a number of countries that the new American Executive branch selected for policy reconsideration. The Obama administration's review of relations with Myanmar, characterized as a ‘boutique issue’ during the presidential campaign, has received considerable attention in 2009, and in part was prompted by quiet signals sent by both sides that improved relations were desirable. Begun as an intense policy review by various agencies, it has been supplemented by the first visits in 15 years to the country by senior US officials. The policy conclusion, that sanctions must remain in place but will be supplemented by dialogue, is a politically realistic compromise given the strong congressional and public antipathy to the military regime and the admiration for Aung San Suu Kyi, whose purported views have shaped US policies. US claims of the importance of Myanmar as a security and foreign policy concern have also been a product of internal US considerations as well as regional realities. US—Burmese relations since independence have been strongly influenced by the Cold War and China, whose strategic interests in Myanmar have been ignored in the public dialogue on policy until recently, with US policy focused on political and human rights concerns.
Attention is now concentrated on parliamentary and local elections to be held in 2010, after which the new constitution will come into effect and provide the military with a taut reign on critical national policies while allowing opposition voices. Future relations will be strongly influenced by the transparency and freedom both of the campaigning and vote counting, and the role—if any—of the opposition National League for Democracy. Strong scepticism exists in the US on prospects unless the Burmese institute extensive reforms. The Burmese military, presently controlling all avenues of social mobility, will have a major role in society for decades. The article initially evaluates US policies towards Myanmar prior to 1988, when a military coup marked a negative shift in US—Myanmar relations, from cooperation to a US sanctions regime. It looks at the influence China's involvement in Myanmar and the role Aung San Suu Kyi have had on the formulation of US policy towards the country and assesses the prospects for the US-Myanmar relationship under the Obama administration." |
| Author/creator: | | DAVID I. STEINBERG |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | International Affairs Volume 86, Issue 1 |
| Format/size: | | pdf (204.95 KB) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 September 2010 |
|
| Title: | | The US-Led Burma Charge |
| Date of publication: | | June 2003 |
| Description/subject: | | "After the violent events of May 30, the US and regional allies need a new approach to Burma...
With the apparent military success of the US-led invasion of Iraq, international politics has fundamentally changed. The US has firmly established its global hegemony. It has no rival. Like it or not, the US now has a strong message it can deliver to any state in the world: "You’re next."
No pressing crisis in the world today can be effectively resolved without the active involvement of the US, unless the concerned parties have both the will and capacity to settle their differences.
Burma is one case where such will is lacking..." |
| Author/creator: | | Min Zin |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol 11, No. 5 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 September 2003 |
|
| Title: | | Tom Lantos: A Champion of Human Rights (Obituary) |
| Date of publication: | | March 2008 |
| Description/subject: | | "US Congressman Tom Lantos of California, one of the best friends Burma ever had, died in February... Lantos worked tirelessly to strengthen US support for democracy and human rights in Burma. Most notably, he wrote the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, which imposed sanctions on Burma’s military regime, and the Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007, which expanded targeted sanctions on the regime..." |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 16, No. 3 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 27 April 2008 |
|
| Title: | | U.S. Sanctions on Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 07 February 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | SUMMARY: "Existing U.S. sanctions on Burma are based on various U.S. laws and presidential executive
orders. This report provides a brief history of U.S. policy towards Burma and the development of
U.S. sanctions, a topical summary of those sanctions, and an examination of additional sanctions
that have been considered, but not enacted, by Congress, or that could be imposed under existing
law or executive orders. The report concludes with a discussion of options for Congress.
The current U.S. sanctions on Burma were enacted, for the most part, due to what the U.S.
government saw as a general disregard by Burma’s ruling military junta, the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), for the human rights and civil liberties of the people of Burma.
The actions of the new quasi-civilian government in Burma have initiated a discussion on when
and how to possibly remove some of the existing sanctions. The Obama Administration recently
announced it would for the first time in 21 years nominate a candidate to serve as U.S.
ambassador to Burma and would welcome a Burmese ambassador to the United States.
Burma-specific sanctions began following the Tatmadaw’s violent suppression of popular protests
in 1988, and have continued through several subsequent periods in which Congress perceived
major human rights violations in Burma. The result is a web of overlapping sanctions with
differing restrictions, waiver provisions, expiration conditions, and reporting requirements.
The United States currently imposes sanctions specifically on Burma via five laws and four
presidential documents. These sanctions can be generally divided into several broad categories,
such as visa bans, restrictions on financial services, prohibitions of Burmese imported goods, a
ban on new investments in Burma, and constraints on U.S. assistance to Burma. Past Congresses
have considered a variety of additional, stricter sanctions on Burma.
In addition to the targeted sanctions, Burma is currently subject to certain sanctions specified in
U.S. laws based on various functional issues. In many cases, the type of assistance or relations
restricted or prohibited by these provisions is also addressed under Burma-specific sanction laws.
The functional issues include the use of child soldiers, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money
laundering, failure to protect religious freedoms, violations of workers’ rights, and threats to
world peace and the security of the United States.
On March 30, 2011, SPDC formally dissolved itself and transferred power to the new Union
Government, headed by President Thein Sein, ex-general and prime minister for the SPDC. On
four separate occasions since his appointment, President Thein Sein has ordered the release of
prisoners, including a number of political prisoners. The Union Government has also initiated
ceasefire talks with various ethnic-based militias, and altered laws to allow opposition parties to
participate in parliamentary elections. However, the continuation of serious human rights abuses
has raised questions about the extent to which there has been significant political change in
Burma. Consideration is being given by the Obama Administration to the selective removal or
alteration of sanctions as part of an effort to foster more reform in Burma.
The 112th Congress may consider either the imposition of additional sanctions or the removal of
some of the existing sanctions, depending on the conduct of Burma’s new Union Government and
other developments in Burma. This report will be updated as conditions warrant." |
| Author/creator: | | Michael F. Martin |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Congressional Research Service |
| Format/size: | | pdf (370K) |
| Date of entry/update: | | 04 April 2012 |
|
| Title: | | US and Burma Remain Outposts Apart |
| Date of publication: | | March 2005 |
| Description/subject: | | "Although some sociologists have noted that Americans sometimes admire sincerity over competence or accuracy, the sincerity of both is not in question; rather it is whether each or a combined approach will accomplish their policy objective.
US policy has long been devoted to “regime change” in Burma, albeit in a peaceful manner. That is, the policy has been to see the military return to barracks and have the opposition, which won the 1990 elections, assume power. Will this approach lead to change in Burma in the manner the US hopes? It’s highly unlikely..." |
| Author/creator: | | David I. Steinberg |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 13, No. 3 |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 29 August 2005 |
|
| Title: | | US engagement with Myanmar falters |
| Date of publication: | | 17 May 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | BANGKOK - After the only outcomes of a visit to Myanmar by a high-level United States diplomat were "profound" disappointment over its election preparations and a stronger line over its nuclear links with North Korea, President Barack Obama on Friday formally extended sanctions against the country.
Washington's extension of the sanctions followed the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Kurt Campbell to Naypyidaw, the capital, on May 9 for a two-day visit. Campbell met top officials such as Foreign Minister Nyan Win, Information Minister Kyaw Hsan, Science and Technology Minister U Thaung - the point man for US-Myanmar engagement - and Labor Minister U Aung Kyi |
| Author/creator: | | Brian McCartan |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asia Times Online |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 October 2010 |
|
| Title: | | US gambles on Myanmar reform |
| Date of publication: | | 04 December 2011 |
| Description/subject: | | "United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's symbolic visit to Myanmar can be chalked up as a "win" for President Thein Sein by achieving what military regimes were unable to do - garner a semblance of respect. That is tempered by the belief that concessions were as much about countering the regime's ties to China and North Korea as promoting democracy. As the sincerity of reform is far from certain, the US is taking a gamble..." |
| Author/creator: | | Brian McCarten |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asia Times Online |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 03 December 2011 |
|
| Title: | | US takes a radical turn on Myanmar |
| Date of publication: | | 30 September 2009 |
| Description/subject: | | The Barack Obama administration has broken ranks with its recent predecessors in announcing its intention to engage Myanmar's ruling generals while also maintaining economic and financial sanctions against the military regime. The outgoing George W Bush administration imposed new financial sanctions against individual regime members and their associates, and often referred to Myanmar as an "outpost of tyranny". |
| Author/creator: | | Brian McCartan |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Asia Times Online |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 14 October 2010 |
|
| Title: | | US-Burma Military Ties ‘Would Push Reform’ |
| Date of publication: | | 12 September 2012 |
| Description/subject: | | "The United States should engage with Burma’s armed forces, collaborate with China and further roll back sanctions to enhance reforms, urges a leading think-tank.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) visited Burma in August to explore the current political, economic and social transformation enacted by President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government and reported that greater regional engagement was needed including joint military exercises.
“If the military continues to support the transition to civilian rule and observes ceasefires in ethnic minority areas, the United States should begin to consider joint military exercises with the Myanmar armed forces and provide selected Myanmar officers access to US International Military Education and Training opportunities in US defense academies,” read a CSIS report on the trip released on Wednesday..." |
| Author/creator: | | Charlie Campbell |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | "The Irrawaddy" |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Date of entry/update: | | 12 September 2012 |
|
| Title: | | US-Kritik an Russlands Vertrag mit Burma zu Nuklearanlagen-Bau |
| Date of publication: | | 25 May 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Die USA haben ein Abkommen zwischen Russland und Burma (Myanmar) über den Bau einer Nuklearanlage verurteilt.Die russische Atomenergiebehörde Rosatom hatte am Dienstag mitgeteilt, sich in dem von einer Militärjunta regierten Burma am Bau einer Nuklearanlage mit einem Zehn-Megawatt-Leichtwasserreaktor zu beteiligen. Eine entsprechende Vereinbarung mit dem Land sehe die Zusammenarbeit bei der Entwicklung und der Ausstattung des Forschungszentrums vor. |
| Language: | | German, Deutsch |
| Source/publisher: | | Der Standard; APA |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 August 2007 |
|
| Title: | | US-Sanktionen verlängert |
| Date of publication: | | 25 July 2007 |
| Description/subject: | | Der US-Senat hat die im Jahr 2003 gegen Burma (Myanmar) verschärften Sanktionen einstimmig verlängert. Die Strafmaßnahmen gegen die burmesische Militärdiktatur müssten aufrecht bleiben, bis die herrschende Junta politische Reformen zulasse. Zu den Sanktionen gehören ein Einfuhrverbot für alle Waren aus Burma und ein Einreiseverbot für Personen mit Verbindungen zur Junta. |
| Language: | | German, Deutsch |
| Source/publisher: | | APA/AFP; der Standard |
| Date of entry/update: | | 18 August 2007 |
|
| Title: | | US/ASEAN: Three Years After Crackdown, No Justice in Burma |
| Date of publication: | | 23 September 2010 |
| Description/subject: | | US-ASEAN Summit is Moment to Align Divergent Policies Ahead of Elections
(New York) - US and Southeast Asian leaders meeting in New York this week should press the Burmese government to end an escalating campaign of repression, release political prisoners, and begin a dialogue with opposition groups ahead of Burma's coming flawed elections, Human Rights Watch said today. September marks the third anniversary of the brutal 2007 crackdown on peaceful protests led by monks and known as the "Saffron Revolution."
US President Barack Obama and leaders of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold a summit in New York on September 24, 2010, the eve of the annual United Nations General Assembly. |
| Language: | | English |
| Source/publisher: | | Human Rights Watch |
| Format/size: | | html |
| Alternate URLs: | | http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/23/usasean-three-years-after-crackdown-no-justice-burma?print">http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/23/usasean-three-years-after-crackdown-no-justice-burma?print
http://www.hrw.org |
| Date of entry/update: | | 24 September 2010 |
|
|