Dramatic developments underway in Burma : US envoy

“We have continuing concerns about a number of developments inside the country. But it is also an undeniable case that there are dramatic developments under way,” US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said.
“It’s too soon and too early to make any final judgement, but at the same time it’s too soon to dismiss them. We are in the mid of a deep diplomatic process which I expect to be continued,” he said.
The US regarded Burma’s election in November last year as a fraud in many critical ways but could not deny that there were new developments after the new government led by President Thein Sein took power in March.
Thein Sein took a number of measures to kick off political reforms including meeting in August with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who made a commitment to on-going dialogue. Washington wanted to see the dialogue between the government and Suu Kyi to continue, Campbell said.
“We have made clear our desire to see continuing progress on issues such as prisoner releases and the essential dialogue between the central government and ethnic minorities,” he said.
“Obviously we have a clear red line perspective on nuclear proliferation concern and the relationship between Burma and North Korea,” Campbell said in a public lecture at Chulalongkorn University yesterday.
Despite extending sanctions on Burma, Campbell said the US was trying a different approach to engage with the country since the previous government before the election.
Washington was prepared to have a new chapter of relations with Burma, he said. “We are carefully watching the situation that there are clearly some developments which demand great attention and focus,” he said.
The current US administration had also consulted with partners in Europe and Asia, notably Asean and China on Burma, he said.
In the past, China had been urged to encourage Naypyidaw to engage a new relationship not only with the US but also the international community, he said, noting that Washington wanted to see China play a constructive role in Burma.
Asked if paramount leader Than Shwe could play some role in obstructing reforms in Burma, Campbell said Burma’s internal politics were a mystery to the US. “We cannot know the internal politics but we have an intention to engage across a number of sectors and to keep the line of communication open,” he said.
“I met Than Shwe shortly when he was Prime Minister in the previous government and we had a short meeting. It’s difficult for me to make an assessment but many people who met him considered him a very serious character and a man prepared to engage differently,” he said.