Council for a Community of Democracies

US Officials Meet with Burma's Leaders to Discuss “Pragmatic Engagement”
November 5, 2009
By: Randi Zung

On November 2, Obama administration officials travelled to army-ruled Burma to begin talks to improve relations between the two governments. This trip marks the first time a top US delegation has travelled to Burma in the last 14 years. During the trip, officials met with Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein, democratic dissident Aung San Suu Kyi, and top junta officials. Reuters reports the two-day trip is a follow-up to the visit made by US officials in October. According to the New York Times, Campbell is the highest-ranking official to meet with Suu Kyi in over 10 years, since her meeting with Madeline Albright in 1995.

In September, the Obama administration announced that the US government would try to seek deeper engagement with Burma in order to help push them towards making democratic reforms to their electoral process, as well as improving their human rights policies. Washington has repeatedly asked for the release of Burma’s estimated 2,000 political prisoners, including the release of Suu Kyi. The article also reports that the junta government has expressed approval of the new US policy, but so far has not made any changes to their governance practices. The Washington Post reports Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and deputy Scot Marciel met with top junta officials to begin the Obama administration’s new policy of “pragmatic engagement.”

Additionally, the article reports that the US sanctions will not be lifted until “concrete progress” is made towards democratic reform by the junta government. The Obama administration has acknowledged that previous sanctions on Burma were ineffective and that ignoring the junta government has failed to bring about any progress. Acknowledging the failure of US sanctions, in large part due to Burma’s trade with China, the US government will continue to employ such sanctions.

According to an article published by Voice of America, US officials are urging junta officials to implement democratic reforms before the country’s next election. This election will be the country’s first election in nearly 20 years; however, the recent ratification of a new constitution signifies that the military will remain in power regardless of the election outcome. Next week Obama will meet with leaders of Southeast Asian countries, including Burma, at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation held in Singapore.

Sources:

Reuters – Q+A: Why is the United States engaging with Myanmar?
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSTRE5A41C120091105

U.S. Diplomat Meets Myanmar’s Top Dissident and Urges Junta to Work With Her
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05myanmar.html?ref=world

Voice of America – US Diplomats Urge Burma's Military to Talk With Opposition, Ethnic Groups
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-05-voa6.cfm

The Washington Post – US will not lift Myanmar sanctions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110501077.html