US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAILS
BURMA’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY
Burma
is on a "remarkable journey" of reform that has much further to go,
Barack Obama said as he made the first visit to the South East Asian nation by
a serving US president.A desire for change had been met by an agenda of reform,
he said, and he was there to extend a "hand of friendship".But, in a
speech at Rangoon University, he urged Burmese people to accept Muslim
Rohingyas after recent violence Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined
the streets as he arrived.The visit was intended to show support for the
reforms put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule
in November 2010.
Activists
have warned that the visit may be too hasty - political prisoners remain behind
bars and ethnic conflicts in border areas are unresolved.On Monday another
prisoner amnesty was announced, with about 50 of the 66 inmates freed
reportedly political detainees. About 200 political prisoners remain behind
bars, activists say.Mr Obama spent about six hours in Burma and did not visit
the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
The
highlight of his visit was a speech at Rangoon University, which was at the
heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the
military regime.Addressing students, he said America would help to rebuild
Burma's economy and could be a partner on its journey forward.Referring to his
20 January 2009 inauguration speech in which he pledged the US would extend a
hand to any country that was willing to unclench its fist, he said: "Today
I've come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship."But this
remarkable journey has just begun, and has much further to go."Reforms
launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form
its foundation. The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished."He
called for an end to communal violence between Muslims and Buddhists in the
western state of Rakhine that has left more than 100,000 people displaced. They
are mostly Muslim Rohingyas who are stateless and face severe discrimination in
Burma.
"National
reconciliation will take time, but for the sake of our common humanity, and for
the sake of this country's future, it is necessary to stop the incitement and
to stop violence," he said.Earlier Mr Obama met Thein Sein, saying the
reform process "here in Myanmar... is one that can lead to incredible
development opportunities".He used the country name preferred by the
government - US officials described the move as a "diplomatic
courtesy" but not a policy shift.
Obama
then met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she
spent years under house arrest. She thanked the US for its support but warned
that difficult times could lie ahead."The most difficult time in any
transition is when we think that success is in sight," she said, saying
people should not be "lured by a mirage of success".The US president
and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark
that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country's history.Mr
Obama was accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who was
returning to Burma almost a year after her first visit.
Thein
Sein's government came to power after widely criticised polls in November 2010
that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government.Since
then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform
process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship
has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted.Ms Suu Kyi was freed from
house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the
elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small
presence in parliament after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally
free and fair in April.In response to the reforms, many Western nations have
relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement.But rights
groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation,
warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are
unresolved.After visiting Burma, Mr Obama headed to Cambodia to join a meeting
of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the
shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region.
Prof. John Kurakar
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