US Myanmar policy review almost complete: Obama aide
Posted by steveAFP Wed Sep 16, 12:56 pm ET
Myanmar review almost done: (Click here to see the story)
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama’s acting point man on Myanmar said Wednesday that a review of US policy was almost complete as he urged the country’s military regime to free some 2,100 political prisoners.
“It is so important that we not forget about these people,” Scot Marciel, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asia and Pacific Bureau and Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs said at a major human rights group’s forum on the detainees.
Marciel said the US review of its approach to Myanmar would not “question or reassess” the importance of the military junta freeing the prisoners and edging towards democratic rule but might call for different tactics.
“Our policy all along has been improved human rights situation, release of political prisoners, dialogue, and transition to a democratic government that can better govern that country,” he said.
“The purpose of the review is to look very honestly, candidly, and say ‘we haven’t been able to achieve the goal, are there things we could do differently, more of, less of, that might increase the chances of us achieving that goal?’” he said.
“I expect we’ll have a conclusion soon,” Marciel said as Human Rights Watch unveiled a report spotlighting the fate of what it estimated to be about 2,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, which Washington calls Burma.
U Pyinya Zawta, leader of the All-Burma Monks’ Alliance at the center of the 2007 protests against the junta, urged Washington to pursue “high-level engagement” with Myanmar’s military leaders while tightening key sanctions.
“The US government should engage, but the most important thing is keep the sanctions in place” unless the junta takes steps like freeing political prisoners, the monk, who spent 10 years in prison, said through an interpreter.
U Pyinya Zawta urged the United States to call for a global arms embargo on Myanmar and to work with key regional powers like India and China to convince the junta to take steps towards democratic rule and free the prisoners, including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
“(The) United States even should further tighten the sanctions by asking (the) United Nations Security Council to start investigation into regime crimes against humanity,” said the monk.
