Myanmar's White House bow: well done, but not mission accomplished
| Washington
President Obama鈥檚 meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein on Monday 鈥� the first visit to the US by a Burmese ruler since 1968 鈥� caps a flurry of recent activity between the two nations since Myanmar began rolling back elements of its authoritarian regime in its "Myanmar Spring."
A recent visit to Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) by America鈥檚 top trade official included discussions about the possibility of duty-free status for some of Myanmar鈥檚 products. That followed an April announcement by Ford Motor Company that it would be jumping into the Burmese auto market, and a March visit to Myanmar by Google chairman Eric Schmidt.
But human rights officials caution that the visit should not be prematurely hailed as a 鈥渕ission accomplished moment鈥� for the still-troubled country.
鈥淲e welcome high-level engagement with the government of Myanmar, but there are some enormous challenges that lie ahead,鈥� says Frank Januzzi, head of the Washington office of Amnesty International. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a temptation for this to be viewed as a celebratory moment, but this is not a mission accomplished moment for Myanmar policy.鈥�
The former military dictatorship has some important waymarks on its horizon, including releasing political prisoners from prisons across the country.
While President Thein has stressed the Myanmar government鈥檚 commitment to releasing all political prisoners, 鈥渨e鈥檇 like that process to expedited,鈥� says Mr. Januzzi, who attended a private dinner with Thein on Sunday evening.聽
Human-rights groups are also concerned about the growing unrest between Buddhists and Muslim minorities, coupled with state security forces who could compound violence.
鈥淵ou have security forces who are not very well trained, who are responsible themselves for human rights violations, so restoring peace and order requires a heightened security force presence while not perpetrating additional abuses 鈥� that鈥檚 a challenge,鈥� Januzzi says
What鈥檚 more, while the state has made cease-fire agreements with most of the country鈥檚 ethnic minority groups, 鈥渢hose have not been translated into lasting peace agreements,鈥� he says.
Although the political landscape of Myanmar remains deeply unsettled, big businesses are rushing into the country. This presents opportunities as well as great risks, human rights groups caution.
鈥淏urma is now officially open for business. Sanctions have been suspended or lifted, and investors are scoping out the country, looking for opportunities," but Myanmar remains a country 鈥渁bsent rule of law, with weak judicial institutions,鈥� Januzzi says.
As business rushes in, 鈥渢his is a country with land grabs going on, that is ripe for abuse,鈥� he adds. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to go in with your eyes wide open.鈥澛�
