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Obama to Myanmar: Free Suu Kyi

First direct appeal for pro-democracy leader's release

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 15, 2009 8:08 AM CST
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(AP) – President Barack Obama today abandoned decades of Western avoidance and told Myanmar's prime minister to free opposition leader and fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a rare face-to-face meeting. The strong message, delivered during his summit with leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations, signals a further thawing in diplomatic relations as the administration pressures Myanmar's ruling junta on human rights ahead of next year's elections.

A joint statement—the first ever between a US president and ASEAN—stopped short of calling for Suu Kyi's release, urging Myanmar to ensure the elections are "conducted in a free, fair, inclusive, and transparent manner." White House aides downplayed the omission, saying it would amount to Myanmar criticizing itself. Gen. Thein Sein did not address leaders' concerns about Suu Kyi, said Malaysian PM Najib Razak. "We expected a bit more, but it was not forthcoming," he said.

President Barack Obama smiles during a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Presidential Palace for APEC Leaders Summit in Singapore, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.
President Barack Obama smiles during a meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Presidential Palace for APEC Leaders Summit in Singapore, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.   (Vincent Thian)
Members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party show portraits outside party HQ on the 89th anniversary of the country's National Day Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in Yangon, Myanmar.
Members of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party show portraits outside party HQ on the 89th anniversary of the country's National Day Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in Yangon, Myanmar.   (Khin Maung Win)
Members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party sell portraits outside party HQ on the 89th anniversary of the country's National Day Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in Yangon, Myanmar.
Members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party sell portraits outside party HQ on the 89th anniversary of the country's National Day Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in Yangon, Myanmar.   (Khin Maung Win)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
cochiserocks
Nov 15, 2009 10:57 AM CST
@cody and @professorcold. THANKYOU!!! That's why I post here and not just read. Intelligent debate which adds to my meagre world view. I retract my initial statement in the face of informed and intelligent statements from the two of you. After the wall of noise emitted from a few vocal individuals with an agenda they are intent on following - it's a welcome relief. Made my day - I'll go back and look more closely at it. I've obviously been labouring under a false understanding and stand corrected. Cheers.
CodyWY
Nov 15, 2009 10:41 AM CST
@ ProfessorCold...You should try reading the Wikipedia article on the Doctrine again you skimmed it to fast. The Monroe Doctrine was initially to deal with European powers interfering in the states in the Americas. As I 'm sure you know "states" does not mean states of the United states in this case. it means nations. It explicitly told European powers that we "the United States" would not tolerate them further colonizing or interfering in the internal governments of the nations on the continents of N. or S. America. The Roosevelt Corollary was added around the time of the Spanish American war so that Pres. Roosevelt could use it to justify his use of the military in those same 'states'. @Cochise..Perhaps ProfessorCold was right in one sense that I was a little pretentious in my first comment about the education. But you are trying to make the Monroe Doctrine fit a situation that it was not in any way designed for. It was to keep strong nations (namely the European Empires of the time) from colonizing and ruling over weaker nations (the small young nations of the American continents) Even in spirit the closest you could use this to compare to Myanmar would be to say that America should keep it's nose out of their internal political process. I don't agree that we should, but that's all you could logically get out of the Monroe Doctrine to fit this situation.
RockyPneumonia
Nov 15, 2009 10:16 AM CST
Actually, pretty much no one "admits" that either President Obama and the Nobel Committee are socialists except for a few foaming-at-the-mouth right-wing lunatics, for much the same reason that no one "admits" that the sun rises in the west.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
diplomacy • Asia • Myanmar • Burma • Aung San Suu Kyi • ASEAN • military junta • Southeast Asia • President Obama

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