In this photo taken on December 10, 2010, US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs Joseph Yun and Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi speak to the media on the door step of Suu Kyi's house after they met for talks in Rangoon. (Photo: Getty Images)
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun began a four-day trip to Burma on Wednesday for introductory meetings with members of the country's new government.
“Deputy Assistant Secretary Joseph Yun of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau is scheduled to travel to Burma from May 18-21,” said State Department spokesperson Mark Toner. “His visit reflects our continued willingness to engage with the government of Burma and to continue consultations with civil society as well as the Burmese people.”
Toner added that Yun will hold introductory meetings with senior government officials in Burma.
Yun’s trip to Burma comes soon after US President Barack Obama's Monday announcement that his administration would extend the national emergency with respect to Burma, and the resulting sanctions, for one more year.
“These actions and policies are hostile to US interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” said Obama in his notification to the US Congress about his decision to extend the national emergency regarding Burma, which commenced on May 20, 1997.
“For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma and maintain in force the sanctions against Burma to respond to this threat,” he added.
Also on Monday, Burma's new President Thein Sein announced “a clemency program,” releasing more than 14,000 prisoners. However, only about 40-50 of Burma's approximately 2,100 political prisoners were included in the release.
Asked about whether the US has seen changes in Burma since the election last November, Toner said in his press briefing on Tuesday: “There’s been some developments. Aung San Suu Kyi was obviously released, and we applauded that, but we remain steadfast in our call that all political prisoners should be released.
“We recognize that there’s some fairly serious challenges to address in this relationship, but we’re going to continue to pursue a dual-track policy that involves pressure but also principled engagement.”
Yun's visit to Burma also comes less than a week after the visit to Burma by Vijai Nambiar, the UN Secretary-General's acting Special Envoy to Burma. Nambiar also called on the new government to release all the political prisoners during his meetings with Burmese government officials.
Burma political observers said that Yun will probably address two key interlinked issues on his trip. The first issue is Burma's desire to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2014, to which the US has already announced its opposition due to the lack of the meaningful political change in Burma as reflected by the second key issue—the government's failure to release all political prisoners.
In a recent editorial, the Bangkok-based English newspaper The Nation wrote: "One day before the 18th Asean summit began in Jakarta, the US sent an urgent message to Indonesia—the Asean chair—Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines simultaneously, saying now was the time to push for real progress in Burma, otherwise it would be difficult to envisage any US president attending the East Asia Summit there in 2014."
Yun is scheduled to meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the evening of May 19. He will also consult with a variety of Burmese stakeholders, including representatives of political parties, nongovernmental organizations, ethnic minorities and the business community.
“As far as I know now, Yun will meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi tomorrow evening,” said Nyan Win, spokesperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Asked about the NLD's response to Obama's decision to extend the national emergency with respect to Burma, Nyan Win said, “The US sanctions are designed to improve democratic and human rights in Burma. Therefore, this extension is a reflection of the lack of change from the side of Burma.”
Although the UN, the US and the Asean—of which Burma is a member state—have all recently tried to persuade Burma's new government to release all political prisoners as a first step to show change in Burma, President Thein Sein's announcement ignored their efforts.
Some members of Burma's new parliament also expressed a desire to have more political prisoners released.
“Any amnesty is better than no amnesty, and firstly I welcome the president's announcement,” said Myat Nyana Soe, a member of the Amyotha Hluttaw, or Upper House of Parliament.
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