Home > South-East Asia >> Burma

US, Burma look for win-win situation: Analysts

Irrawaddy - September 23, 2009

Saw Yan Naing – The United States finally sent a green light to Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein and Foreign Minister Nyan Win to fly to New York to take part in the UN General Assembly, the first time in 14 years.

As part of its sanction policy, the US banned Burmese officials from traveling to the US except to attend meetings of international organizations such as the United Nations.

However, on his current trip, Nyan Win was allowed to visit the Burmese embassy in Washington where he met with US Sen. Jim Webb. He is now in New York to attend the general session at the UN General Assembly from Sept. 23-26 and 28-30.

Gen Thein Sein will also join the UN General Assembly session. He is also expected to meet with Kurt M. Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, according to a report in the Washington Post.

The Burmese generals' travel to the US comes at a moment when the US government is reviewing its foreign policy on Burma. The results are expected to be announced soon. Some Burmese observers believe the US and Burma may upgrade their diplomatic relationship in a compromise for common interests.

Thakin Chan Tun, a veteran Burmese politician and a former Burmese ambassador to China, said Burma wants to establish a better relationship with the US.

By allowing the Burmese ministers to fly to US, the US government may also be trying to influence the regime to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said Chan Tun.

A Rangoon-based Arakanese politician, Aye Thar Aung, who is secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy, said US policy on Burma hasn't achieve real results in pressing the Burmese regime to change its policies, and the timing is right for a new policy on Burma.

He said, however, that he doesn't think the US policy on Burma will change immediately. "If there is no significant political improvement in Burma, the policy on Burma won't change," said Aye Thar Aung.

Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese observer in Chiang Mai, called the moves a good scenario for a better bilateral relationship between the US and Burma. "Instead of criticizing each other like enemies, at least the tension between the two nations will be decreased," said Aung Naing Oo.

Although powerful nations such as China and Russia support Burma, the Burmese generals would like to have a relationship with the nation that has imposed economic sanctions, said Aung Naing Oo.

Win Tin, a senior leader of National League for Democracy, however, said the Burmese ministers will use the trip to distract the international community while its army continues to use its divide-and-rule tactic to destroy the political opposition and ethnic armed groups.

"Even if the US wants to practice constructive engagement with the Burmese regime, targeted sanctions on Burma are still needed," said Win Tin.

See also:


Home | Site Map | Calendar & Events | News Services | Links & Resources | Contact Us