Hilary Clinton looking for signs of change in Burma

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By Peter Shadbolt for CNN  updated 3:39 AM EST, Wed November 30, 2011

CNN) -- Hillary Clinton was due to arrive in Myanmar on Wednesday looking for signs of real change following government reforms undertaken by the one-time reclusive military state.

 

"I will obviously be looking to determine for myself what the intention is of the current government with respect to continued reforms," Clinton said from Busan in South Korea before taking off for Naypyitaw, the new capital of Myanmar.

"We and many other nations are very hopeful that these flickers of progress as President Obama called them in Bali will be ignited into a movement for change that will benefit the people if the country."
The historic two-day visit, the first by a U.S. Secretary of State in 50 years, comes in the wake of concessions by the new government of President Thein Sein. His government freed dozens of political prisoners last month following the earlier release of Nobel Peace Laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

But Myanmar democracy veteran Win Tin, the 82-year-old National League for Democracy free speech campaigner who spent almost 20 years in prison, says the changes are cosmetic and will only benefit the country's ruling elite.

Amnesty in Burma: real change or pleasing gesture: Releasing Prisoners!

Please read the detail story HERE
(CNN) -- Myanmar announced Tuesday it will grant amnesty to 6,300 prisoners on Wednesday, one in a series of recent moves that could help the isolated nation normalize relations with Western nations including the United States.

But is it really an authentic step toward greater freedoms in one of the world's most repressive states? Or is it another gesture by the nominally civilian government to appease critics?

Kurt Campbell, a U.S. assistant secretary of state, called it a "dramatic development" that could prompt Washington to consider improving ties. The United States imposes an embargo on arms and investment in Myanmar, once known as Burma before a military junta took over.

But if you ask Mark Farmaner, director of the London-based human rights group Burma Campaign UK, the prisoner amnesty is part of the "mood music" created to soothe the world. Obviously, he said, the amnesty was welcome, but it was hardly signaling the government's wish for democracy.

"What's very clear is that (President) Thein Sein is willing to make more concessions in order to get sanctions lifted and get more international legitimacy," Farmaner said.

The amnesty announcement in state-run media did not make it clear how many political detainees would be included.

Amnesty International has reported that more than 2,200 political prisoners are detained in poor conditions and subjected to torture and cruel treatment.

Clinton Calls Burma to Free Political Prisoners

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Burma will lose the trust of the international community unless it releases its political prisoners and opens dialogue with the opposition.
She also called on the government to address growing concerns about weapons proliferation.
Burma held elections late last year, officially handing power to a civilian administration after a half-century of military rule and releasing pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.
But many say the changes are cosmetic and the army still holds sway.

"We look to the government to unconditionally release the more than 2,000 political prisoners who continue to languish in prison," Clinton told representatives from 10 Southeast Asian nations gathering in Indonesia.

Burma, also known as Myanmar, should also conduct meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the political opposition and ethnic minorities, she said.

Last year, US officials said a North Korean ship, suspected of carrying weapons or missile heads, was intercepted as it headed to Burma.

That raised fears the country has nuclear ambitions.

Clinton called on the government to "address growing concerns on non-proliferation by committing to respect and adhere to relevant UN Security Council Resolutions."

"The choice is clear," she said. "They can take these steps and gain back the confidence of their people and the trust of the international community. Or they can continue down the path they've been on."
Clinton also signaled subtle disapproval of efforts by Burma to assume Asean's chairmanship in 2014, as is now being discussed.

"We trust that Asean members will gauge whether a potential chair can advance the organization's credibility and leadership role in the region," she said.

The Obama administration has sought to engage Burma to improve conditions, but the policy has produced little concrete results and has not eased sanctions on the country.

Burma came under military rule in 1962 and has brutally suppressed political dissent since then. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept 1990 elections but was barred from taking power.

Spring 2011 National Organizing Meeting

The US Campaign for Burma is excited to announce that Dr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the former UN Special Rapporeur on Human Rights in Burma and Myo Myint, a former Burmese-soldier-turned-democracy-activist are confirmed to speak at our National Organizing Meeting in April.

Join us for an in-depth report on the current political situation in Burma, take part in lively policy discussions, and learn key organizing and advocacy skills.

Click here for the updated schedule, which includes workshops and training on grassroots outreach, awareness raising, and advocacy strategy with knowledgeable Burma policy experts.

After her release, Aung San Suu Kyi called on Burma supporters from around the globe to form a "network of democracy" activists to ignite Burma's march towards freedom. This meeting is an opportunity for you to heed her call to action.

Take this time to sign up for the National Organizing Meeting and register online early to save $10.

We look forward to seeing you at the National Organizing Meeting in April.