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Obama's Hope for Change in Myanmar
President Obama has made steps towards increasing US relations with Myanmar, the country formerly (and still officially) known as Burma. Obama was the first US President to enter the country. In his recent visit to the East Asian country, Obama showed his support for the budding democracy saying that the US will willingly give aid where it is needed. In additional efforts to display increasing relations, Obama has eased US sanctions on Myanmar and sent an ambassador to represent the US in Myanmar. Myanmar, which is making efforts to distance itself from military control, has progressed towards democracy under President Thein Sein. New changes in Myanmar have included the release of many political prisoners, loosened restrictions on media, and opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi holding a position in Parliament.
Obama's trip, however, has not come without its share of controversey. Many human rights activists discouraged the trip as democracy is still incredibly new to the country. While progress has been steady, many political prisoners remain captive and violence is still ever present in many regions of Myanmar. Some say that an early showing of support from Obama and the US may detract from the necessary time that Myanmar needs in order to fully rebuild and become a true democracy.
Most of all, Obama's trip is one of hope. As he stated earlier, “This is an acknowledgment that there is a process under way inside [Myanmar] that even a year and a half, two years ago, nobody foresaw.” While more progress inevitably must take place, Obama's trip endorsed the country's fight for change.
2 comments:
It does seem rather early to be visiting Myanmar since it is still experiencing conflicts like the ones Sharon described, but I don't feel like Obama visiting would do any harm. Obviously my perspective is not that of a person from Myanmar, so I can't state this as if it's a fact, but if I were someone in a country just starting to become democratic, I would be inspired by the leader of the most prominent one "coming to visit"-it's sort of a show of good faith.
I am glad that Obama visited Myanmar at this crucial time, despite the controversy. I think that his visit should not be viewed as the indication of the completion of democracy, but as a step along the way. I definitely agree that this trip is about hope for the future for Myanmar.
On the way home from school I heard a panel on the radio discussing Obama's visit to Myanmar; one of the panelist quoted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who stated (according to a press release )"..the most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight. Then we have to be very careful that we are not lured by a mirage of success and that we are working to a genuine success for our people and for the friendship between our two countries."
Hopefully, Myanmar will be able to continue to to find that genuine success in dealing with their human rights issues, racial divides, transparency, and overall democracy.
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