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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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US to Engage Burmese Junta

Clinton announces change in policy, says sanctions will remain

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(Newser) – The US will directly engage with Burma's military leadership in addition to its current sanctions, Hillary Clinton said yesterday. The secretary of State acknowledged that sanctions alone had failed to change "the lack of democracy in Burma and the authorities’ abysmal record on human rights," and it was time for a strategy change.

"Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion," Clinton said after talks at the UN General Assembly. "So, going forward we will be employing both of those tools, pursuing our same goals." A spokesman for imprisoned opposition leader's Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said the party agreed with the decision to engage with Burmese authorities as long as pressure was kept on the junta, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Myanmar riot police take a break during a city patrol as an appeal of the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is heard at a court in Insein Prison in Rangoon last month.
Myanmar riot police take a break during a city patrol as an appeal of the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is heard at a court in Insein Prison in Rangoon last month.   (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
Myanmar residents in Japan raise their fists, demanding the immediate release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a rally outside the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo.
Myanmar residents in Japan raise their fists, demanding the immediate release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a rally outside the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced a shift in US policy towards Burma.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced a shift in US policy towards Burma.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Burma's s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is seen at the state guesthouse in Rangoon in this 2007 photo.
Burma's s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is seen at the state guesthouse in Rangoon in this 2007 photo.   (AP Photo/Myanmar News Agency, File)
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To help achieve democratic reform, we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities. - Hillary Clinton

The Burmese authorities’ policy of self-imposed isolation only makes this situation worse. To help Burma achieve genuine democratic reform, we must be willing to engage directly. - Hillary Clinton

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4 comments
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yoeydude
Sep 24, 09 7:54 AM CDT
Burma or Myanmar has been ruled by a military junta since the 60s , ... these guys are entrenched ,..... whats it going to take ? thats a tall order Madam Secretary , but good luck Reply
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BeatBlaster
Sep 24, 09 9:06 AM CDT
I'm just glad we're talking to people instead of giving them the cold shoulder. The cold shoulder approach didn't really seem to do much for us.
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riffran
Sep 25, 09 1:51 AM CDT
Jeez..please tell me it's not going to be another war..cross the ole fingers Reply
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alkaseltzersammich
Sep 25, 09 1:07 PM CDT
Burma is in dire straits and needs change desparately. Those people have been living in squalor under the most corrupt and ridiculous military regime in recent memory. Something definitely needs to be done and I'm happy and surprised that the US is actually taking part in this engagement. Reply
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