Saturday, October 10, 2009
Burma's Suu Kyi discusses US sanctions
Burma's Suu Kyi discusses US sanctions
October 9, 2009 - 6:54PM
Detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has discussed sanctions against military-ruled Burma in a rare meeting with Western diplomats, the US embassy in Rangoon says.
The Nobel Laureate met with the heads of the US, UK and Australian embassies for one hour at a government guesthouse on Friday, following a letter she wrote to the junta chief, embassy spokesman Drake Weisert told AFP.
"The meeting follows Aung San Suu Kyi's request in a letter to Senior General Than Shwe to meet representatives of the US and other countries to discuss their respective policies on sanctions," he said.
"We can confirm that sanctions were discussed at the meeting. However, we do not want to pre-empt Aung San Suu Kyi's discussions with the authorities by discussing the details of the meeting," he added.
© 2009 AFP http://news. smh.com.au/ breaking- news-world/ burmas-suu- kyi-discusses- us-sanctions- 20091009- gqml.html
Aung San Suu Kyi on 'remarkable form,' says British envoy
Posted : Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:53:10 GMT
By : dpa
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London - Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was on "remarkable form" and "very engaged" during a meeting with Western diplomats, British ambassador Andrew Heyn said Friday. "She was in remarkable form for someone who has been through what she has been through. She was very, very engaged in the subject, very interested in going into the detail of what she wanted to talk about, and she seemed, as ever, very eloquent and very, very engaged," Heyn told the BBC in an interview.
The British ambassador represented the European Union (EU) at the meeting in which US acting Charge d'Affaires Thomas Vajda and Australian Deputy Head of Mission, Simon Christopher Starr, also took part.
Asked about the prospect of sanctions against the regime in Myanmar being lifted, Heyn said the British government believed that sanctions were sending a "strong political message to the Burmese authorities about our real determination to see genuine democratic reform."
The fact that the regime was making a point of complaining about sanctions were proof that they were having an effect, said the British envoy.
"But what we have also made clear is that we will respond to substantive progress towards democracy in respect of human rights but we have to see concrete progress on the ground," he said.
Copyright DPA
U.S. seeks dialogue with Myanmar but sanctions stay
U.S. seeks dialogue with Myanmar but sanctions stay
Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:37pm BST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will embark on a new policy of engagement with Myanmar's military government while keeping sanctions in place, hoping to twin economic pressure with political dialogue to spur democratic reforms.
The new U.S. policy [ID:nN2892144] , formally unveiled on Monday, marks a new stage in Washington's relations with the isolated Southeast Asian country, which is preparing next year to hold its first election in two decades.
WHY WERE SANCTIONS IMPOSED?
The United States first imposed broad sanctions on Myanmar, formally known as Burma, in 1988 after the military junta cracked down on student-led protests.
Washington has gradually tightened sanctions on the generals who rule the country, in a largely unsuccessful attempt to force them into rapprochement with Nobel Peace laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention, or "protective custody" for 14 of the last 20 years.
President Barack Obama renewed the sanctions in May. The United States has banned all imports from Myanmar, restricted financial transactions, frozen the assets of certain financial institutions and extended visa restrictions on junta officials.
The European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan have all imposed various sanctions on Myanmar's government.
WHAT IS THE NEW U.S. POSITION?
Existing U.S. sanctions will remain in place pending evidence of concrete political progress in Myanmar.
"Lifting sanctions now would send the wrong signal," Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters. He said Washington reserved the right to impose additional sanctions if the situation in Myanmar deteriorates.
But the two sides are now planning direct meetings. The first contacts are expected this week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Campbell will take part for the U.S. side in talks designed to forge a new way ahead.
"We know the process may be long and difficult," Campbell said. "It is important that the Burmese people gain greater exposure to broader ideas."
WHY NOW?
Myanmar is one of the most economically and politically isolated countries on the planet. In Washington concerns have been growing about suspected contacts between Myanmar's rulers and North Korea, which has defied international calls to abandon its nuclear program.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in July that the United States was concerned about the possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Myanmar.
Myanmar calmed some jitters when it moved to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution against Pyongyang after it tested a nuclear device in May. Washington is hoping broader U.S. engagement with Myanmar may forestall closer ties between the two Asian outcasts.
U.S. officials hope to promote engagement before Myanmar's planned elections next year, which the junta says will end almost five decades of military rule. Analysts say the elections could simply provide a new fig leaf for army control.
Campbell said Washington would reinforce the necessity of allowing opposition parties to participate fully. "We are skeptical that the elections will be either free or fair, but we will stress to the Burmese the conditions that we consider necessary for a credible electoral process," he said.
WHAT DO THE BURMESE SAY?
Myanmar officials have said publicly that they remain committed to moving toward democracy, although not in a form imposed by the outside world.
"The transition to democracy is proceeding," Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein told the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly on Monday. "Our focus is not on the narrow interest of individuals, organizations or parties but on the larger interest of the entire people of the nation."
Aung San Suu Kyi's political party said she supported the U.S. engagement, but only if opposition groups are involved in any dialogue.
Suu Kyi was sentenced to another 18 months under house arrest last month for allowing an American intruder to stay at her home for two nights.
Pro-democracy campaigners in the United States said Washington should implement further sanctions if Myanmar's government does not stop "mass atrocities" against civilians.
"We also hope that U.S. engagement with the regime should not be an open-ended process, but with a reasonable timeframe and clear benchmarks," Aung Din, the executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, said in a statement.
(Editing by Chris Wilson)
Obama's Nobel Peace Prize triumph hailed by many
Obama's Nobel Peace Prize triumph hailed by many
By GREGORY KATZ (AP) – 26 minutes ago
LONDON — The surprise choice of President Barack Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize drew praise from much of the world Friday even as many pointed out the youthful leader has not yet accomplished much on the world stage.
The new president was hailed for his willingness to reach out to the Islamic world, his commitment to curtailing the spread of nuclear weapons and his goal of bringing the Israelis and Palestinians into serious, fruitful negotiations.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize 1984, said Obama's award shows great things are expected from him in the coming years.
"In a way, it's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution towards making our world a safer place for all," he said. "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."
He said the prize is a "wonderful recognition of Obama's effort to reach out to the Arab world after years of hostility.
In the Kenyan city of Kisumu, the home province of Obama's father, local radio shows interrupted broadcasting to have live phone-ins so callers could congratulate Obama on his win. Traders in the market huddled around hand-held radios and touts shouted the news from the windows of local minibuses — known as matatus.
"When I heard it on the radio I said Hallelujah!" said 65-year-old James Andaro. "It's God's blessing. This win is for Africa."
Matatu driver Ajos Rambanya, 27, said: "I am very happy. Someone who is good is known by his deeds and Obama has proven that."
Another former Nobel winner, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, said Obama has already provided outstanding leadership in the effort to prevent nuclear proliferation.
"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts. He has reached out across divides and made clear that he sees the world as one human family, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity."
Still, some said the award came too soon, in light of the lack of tangible progress toward the vital goals of bringing peace to the Middle East, persuading Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions and improving relations with North Korea.
"The award is premature," said Eugene Rogan, director of the Middle East Center at Oxford University in England. "He hasn't done anything yet. But he's made clear from the start of his presidency his commitment to promote peace. No doubt the Nobel committee hopes the award will enhance his moral authority to advance the cause of peace while he's still president."
Massimo Teodori, one of Italy's leading experts of U.S. history, said the Nobel decision is a clear rejection of the "unilateral, antagonistic politics" of Obama's predecessor, George Bush.
"The prize is well deserved after the Bush years, which had antagonized the rest of the world," Teodori said. "President Obama's policy of extending his hand has reconciled the United States with the international community."
Teodori mentioned Obama's efforts to reach out to former adversaries and his landmark speech in Cairo addressed to the Muslim world.
"For now it's still intentions rather then fully implemented policies, but they are deserving ones," Teodori said.
Reaction was far more muted in some Islamic countries. In Pakistan's central city of Multan, radical Islamic leader Hanif Jalandhri, said he was neither happy nor surprised by Obama's award.
"But I do hope that Obama will make efforts to work for peace, and he will try to scrap the policies of Bush who put the world peace in danger," said Jalandhri, secretary general of a group that oversees 12,500 seminaries. "This prize has tripled Obama's responsibilities, and we can hope that he will try to prove through his actions that he deserved this honor."
Others were stunned.
"I don't think Obama has done anything for peace," said shop owner Rana Naveed, 38, in Multan. "I am shocked."
Associated Press Writers Abisalom Omolo in Kogelo, Kenya, Celean Jacobson in Johannesburg, Alessandra Rizzo in Rome and Khalid Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Burma's Suu Kyi Meets With Western Diplomats
Burma's Suu Kyi Meets With Western Diplomats
Friday, October 09, 2009
RANGOON, Burma : AP — Burma's junta leader has allowed detained Burma pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to meet Western diplomats to discuss sanctions imposed against the military-ruled country, government officials said Friday.
The Nobel Prize winner, who remains under house arrest, was driven to a government guesthouse to meet with diplomats of the United States, Great Britain and Australia, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
The meeting lasted about one hour. After it concluded, Suu Kyi was driven back to her lakeside residence, where she has spent 14 of the last 20 years under house arrest.
Suu Kyi sent a letter to junta leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe on Sept. 26, stating her willingness to cooperate with the military government to have the sanctions lifted and seeking permission to meet with Western diplomats in order to understand positions of governments that imposed the sanctions.
The 64-year-old democracy icon had previously welcomed sanctions as a way to pressure the junta to achieve political reconciliation with the pro-democracy movement. Suu Kyi's opposition party has insisted on concessions from the government if they are to work together, particularly the freeing of political prisoners.
Suu Kyi requested meetings with diplomats from the U.S., EU and Australia and said she needed to meet her party to understand their position on sanctions.
After the letter, Burma Relations Minister Aung Kyi met with Suu Kyi twice within a week. The second meeting took place Wednesday.
Details of these talks have not been disclosed, but the spokesman for her National League for Democracy, Nyan Win, said Friday that he hoped the junta would also agree to her second request in the letter -- a meeting with her opposition party's members.
Last week, a court rejected Suu Kyi's appeal against the extension of her widely condemned house arrest.
The court ruling against Suu Kyi upheld her August conviction for breaking the terms of her house arrest by briefly sheltering an uninvited American at her home earlier this year. She was sentenced to an additional 18 months of house arrest -- which means she cannot participate in elections scheduled for next year, the first in Burma in two decades.
Suu Kyi's legal team said they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court within 60
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