Obama calls for release of Aung San Suu Kyi
Onka Dekker
Issue date: 11/21/09 Section: World
President Obama has followed through on his administration's new policy of direct engagement with Burma by calling for the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. President Obama spoke at a meeting of Asian countries in Singapore on Nov. 16 that included Burma's prime minister, General Thein Sein.
President Obama is the first American president to attend a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The group organized during the Vietnam War. Other American presidents have stayed away from the ASEAN meetings as part of U.S. sanctions against Burma.
The Obama administration announced the new policy of engagement with Burma's military rulers earlier this month. The administration is continuing existing U.S. restrictions that prevent trade with the military dictatorship.
Junior Kacey Pelletier is a student representative to the U.S. Campaign for Burma. She cautiously welcomed the new engagement policy.
"We've had economic sanctions against Burma since 1989, the year I was born," said Pelletier. "Limited restrictions haven't worked."
The week, before the ASEAN meeting, the military government permitted U.S. diplomats to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in a hotel in Rangoon. It was the first time since 2003 that she had been seen outside her house or prison.
Burma's military rulers have jailed Aung San Suu Kyi or held her under house arrest for 14 of the 20 years since her party won elections by a large majority in 1989. During those years, they changed the name of the country to Myanmar, moved the capital from Rangoon to Naypyidaw, and revised the constitution to solidify their power.
"Maybe more of a collective approach with the members of the ASEAN will help," Pelletier said." But I don't support any action that legitimizes the military regime. Burma is as brutal as Sudan or South Africa under apartheid, even worse."
Associate Professor of Political Science George Guo agrees with the new policy of engagement.
President Obama is the first American president to attend a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The group organized during the Vietnam War. Other American presidents have stayed away from the ASEAN meetings as part of U.S. sanctions against Burma.
The Obama administration announced the new policy of engagement with Burma's military rulers earlier this month. The administration is continuing existing U.S. restrictions that prevent trade with the military dictatorship.
Junior Kacey Pelletier is a student representative to the U.S. Campaign for Burma. She cautiously welcomed the new engagement policy.
"We've had economic sanctions against Burma since 1989, the year I was born," said Pelletier. "Limited restrictions haven't worked."
The week, before the ASEAN meeting, the military government permitted U.S. diplomats to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in a hotel in Rangoon. It was the first time since 2003 that she had been seen outside her house or prison.
Burma's military rulers have jailed Aung San Suu Kyi or held her under house arrest for 14 of the 20 years since her party won elections by a large majority in 1989. During those years, they changed the name of the country to Myanmar, moved the capital from Rangoon to Naypyidaw, and revised the constitution to solidify their power.
"Maybe more of a collective approach with the members of the ASEAN will help," Pelletier said." But I don't support any action that legitimizes the military regime. Burma is as brutal as Sudan or South Africa under apartheid, even worse."
Associate Professor of Political Science George Guo agrees with the new policy of engagement.
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posted 1/01/10 @ 8:21 AM EST
Barack Obama the best variant of the president for America. Soon elections and I am obligatory ???? to vote for it. Whatever spoke, but Barackone of the most influential figures in the world. (Continued…)
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