WASHINGTON — The US armed forces is ready to re-engage with Burma's ruling junta in a military-to-military dialogue if there is any change in Washington's policy toward the Southeast Asian country, a top US military official told lawmakers this week.
Appearing before both the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on Thursday and Friday, Adm Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, acknowledged that there is virtually no contact between the two countries' armed forces, but said that could change if Washington decides to alter its Burma policy.
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| Navy Adm Robert Willard (C), commander of the US Pacific Command, Air Force Gen Kevin Chilton (L), commander of the US Strategic Command and Army Gen Walter Sharp (R), commander of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/US Forces Korea testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on US Pacific Command, US Strategic Command, and US Forces Korea in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2011 and the Future Years Defense Program on March 26, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images) |
Although he did not elaborate on what kind of relationship he would like to have with the Burmese regime, he identified a number of key areas of concern currently affecting bilateral ties.
“Beyond the significant issues associated with their human rights record, Burma presents challenges to regional stability in a number of other areas, including a maritime border dispute with Bangladesh, narcotics trafficking, trafficking in persons, and potential for rapid spread of pandemic disease,” he said.
The last time that the US military had any significant contact with the Burmese junta was in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, when the US Department of Defense used 36 C-130 planes to deliver nearly $1.2 million worth of US aid to Rangoon to support humanitarian relief operations in the Irrawaddy delta.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Obama administration expressed concern about the election laws in Burma. “We were clearly disappointed by them,” the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P J Crowley, said.
“It by no means does what Burma has to do in terms of opening up its political process and having meaningful dialogue with parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s, as well as the various ethnic groups within Burmese society,” he said.
“I can’t predict that we’ll have a specific discussion at the G-8 summit. But this is, obviously, something that is of concern to us, as [it has] concerned others, and we will continue to share notes where it’s appropriate,” Crowley said in response to a question at his daily news briefing.
