BurmaNet News, July 22, 2009

[Editor]

July 22, 2009, Issue #3759


INSIDE BURMA
Al Jazeera: Suu Kyi lawyers barred from visit
DVB: Monks harassed by authorities

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima News: Report on child soldier released

BUSINESS / TRADE
Mizzima News: Burma’s nuclear nexus with Russia

HEALTH / AIDS
Irrawaddy: As foreign aid workers leave, food security concerns grow
Xinhua: Myanmar tightens measures against A/H1N1

ASEAN
AFP: ASEAN should consider Myanmar expulsion: Clinton

REGIONAL
Thaidian News: Indian lawmakers call for Suu Kyi’s release
China Post: Malaysian officers held over Myanmar migrant sale

INTERNATIONAL
VOA: US House approves extension of ban on imports from Burma

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Clinton’s Burma message – Aung Zaw



____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

July 22, Al Jazeera
Suu Kyi lawyers barred from visit

The lawyer for Myanmar's jailed pro-democracy leader says he and his team
have been denied access to her, two days before her trial on charges of
breaking the terms of her house arrest is due to resume.

Her legal team are expected to present closing arguments in the case on
Friday, with a verdict expected shortly afterwards.

If convicted she faces up to five years in jail.

The trial, taking place behind closed doors in Yangon's Insein jail,
centres on a visit to her home by an American man who swam secretly to her
lakeside villa and stayed for two days.

On Wednesday her legal team had planned to finalise the draft of their
23-page closing argument, but authorities denied their request to visit
her in a special guest house inside the jail.

"This shows that the judicial system in the country is very weak," ''said
Nyan Win, one of Aung San Suu Kyi's defence lawyers as well as spokesman
for her party.

"We need to see our client to finalise the draft, and it was very bad that
the right has been denied."

The trial has drawn condemnation from the international community and
opposition supporters, who worry the ruling military has found an excuse
to keep her detained through elections planned for next year.

Aung San Suu Kyi's legal team not contested the basic facts of the case,
but they have said argued that the charges she faces are illegal because
the military government charged her under a law that cites a constitution
abolished two decades ago.

They have also asserted that the security guards who monitor her home and
ensure that she remains inside her compound should also be held
responsible for any intrusion on her property.

She is widely expected to be found guilty when the verdict is delivered,
expected sometime next month.

____________________________________

July 22, Democratic Voice of Burma
Monks harassed by authorities – Naw Noreen

Monks living in a Rangoon monastery were harassed by authorities last week
after accepting food donations from opposition party members given to mark
Martyrs’ Day in Burma.

Around 20 officials from Thingangyun township authority in Rangoon arrived
at the monastery in Laydauntkan ward where monks had received meals from
National League for Democracy (NLD) members, a traditional way to
celebrate Martyrs’ Day each year on 19 June.

According to NLD member Naw Ohn Hla, the officials “said intimidating
words” to the monks and told them to report future donations to township
authorities.

“They issued warnings and interrogated them,” she said. “They asked the
monks how the offerings were made, how they were blessed with water, what
kind of clothes were worn.”

Authorities threatened to seal off the monastery as had been famously done
to Maggin monastery during the September 2007 monk-led uprising.

Monastery abbot, U Kumara, reportedly replied that his monastery had no
“complicated matters” like Maggin, but was told by authorities that he had
been “tainted with a black spot”.

Ohn Hla was among the 21 NLD members arrested and briefly detained whilst
returning from Martyrs’ Mausoleum on Sunday.

“They told us not to wear clothes with [the pictures of] General Aung
San,” she said. “When we headed towards the museum, they arrested us on
the way.”

A number of those detained were “beaten up severely” and thrown into a
van, she said.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

July 22, Mizzima News
Report on child soldier released – Phanida

The unabated recruitment of child soldiers into the Burmese Army has been
exposed in a report released by the Thai-Burmese border based ‘Yoma 3’
Burmese News Agency today.

The agency said, it took about one and-a-half years to compile the 72-page
‘Child Soldiers: Burma’s Sons of Sorrow’, which was released on Wednesday
at a press conference held along the Thai-Burmese border.

The report includes interviews with two child soldier deserters, a
sergeant and four parents of child soldiers forcibly recruited by the
army.

“The junta always claims to the international community and UN that it
never recruits child soldiers into the army. They also always claim that
organizations in exile are disseminating concocted stories to western
countries. We wish to let people know clearly what the true facts are,”
Nyein Lu, editor of the Yoma 3 told Mizzima.

The report also presented news and photographs of the No. 1 Recruit Centre
at Danyinkone Township in Rangoon Division, No. 2 in Mandalay, No. 3 in
Yemethin and No. 9 Basic Military Training School in Zay Chaung village of
Thaton Township in Mon state.

The group said, the survey and the facts and figures in the report were
provided by activists inside Burma, military personnel in the Burma Army
and former soldiers.

Yoma 3 news agency was founded in 1998 by pro-democracy and human rights
activists, who fled to the border after the 1988 uprising. The report is
Yoma 3’s second report on child soldiers.

Despite persistent allegations made by the UN, ILO and Human Rights
organizations on the use of child soldiers by the Burmese Army, the junta
has always blatantly denied.

In the UN Secretary General’s report released in December 2007, Ban
Ki-moon says besides the Burmese Army, there are nine more ethnic armed
forces, which also use child soldiers in their respective armed units.

Following severe criticism, Burma’s military rulers in February 2007
allowed the International Labour Organization (ILO) to open a liaison in
Rangoon to accept complaints of child soldiers and to help in eliminating
the use of children in the army.

According to complaints received by Mizzima, the junta often recruits
children mainly between the age of 14-16 from poor family backgrounds in
Rangoon, Irrawaddy and Magwe Divisions by using pressure tactics including
summoning by quota from each village, intimidation and incentives by way
of money.

In 2005, the Yoma 3, published its first child soldier report in
collaboration with the Thailand-based ‘Human Rights Education Institute of
Burma’ (HREIB).

The group said, they will also present the report to the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in
Armed Conflict, Asia Human Right Council and Human Right Watch.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

July 22, Mizzima News
Burma’s nuclear nexus with Russia – Ko Wild

The Burmese military junta’s overt nuclear ambitions are out in the open,
in a leaked document from the junta’s military establishment, which
reveals that Burma’s number two strongman second Vice-Senior General Maung
Aye, during a visit to Russia in 2006, had sought assistance in
constructing a 10 million megawatt nuclear reactor.

The document, which is a top-secret memo, details the overseas travels of
Maung Aye and Thura Shwe Mann, third in the military hierarchy.

The leaked document, a copy of which is in Mizzima’s possession, says
Maung Aye during his trip to Russia sought assistance to build a nuclear
reactor. He also sought military cooperation from the Russians.

At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Maung Aye led
a 60-member delegation on a five-day visit, April 2 to 6 2006, to Russia.
He met the Russian Prime Minister as well as the Russian Army’ Chief of
Staff Yury Baluyevksy, and Chief of Staff of the Navy and Air Force.

Maung Aye received positive response from Russia during the meetings,
regarding his “special request” for assistance in constructing a 10
million megawatt nuclear reactor and to allow Burmese students in Russia
to learn nuclear technology and aeronautical engineering.

Besides, he also got a nod for increased purchase of Russian-made MIG 29
and MIG 27 jet fighters, providing technical assistance in producing
Guided Missiles and for purchase of ships.

As Russia, a veto wielding country at the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), has blocked attempts by western countries to pass a resolution on
Burma over its appalling human rights conditions, the delegation promised
that Burma will back Russia’s effort to establish stronger ties with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The secret documents with Mizzima also reveal details of meetings between
Russia’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army Lt-General Evnevich Valery
G, who visited Burma in February 2008, with Maung Aye.

The meeting was also attended by General Thura Shwe Mann, the junta’s
secretary (1), Commander-in-Chief (Navy), Commander-in-Chief (Air),
Military Affairs Security Chief, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of
Defence and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Kyaw Thu.

The Russian delegation led by Lt-General Evnevich Valery G, was
accompanied by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Dr Mikhail
Mgeladze and Military Attache' Colonel Alexander V Svinitsovskiy.

The document also reveals that the Deputy Minister of the Defence Ministry
Maj-Gen Aye Myint led delegation and the Russian delegates formed a group
for “cooperation in military technology.”

Similarly, documents with details of General Thura Shwe Mann led
delegation’s visit to North Korea, following a visit to China in November
2008 was also leaked.

According to the leaked document, a copy of which is in Mizzima’s
possession, North Korean and Burma agreed on military cooperation and
military training. Besides, North Korea also agreed to build underground
buildings including tunnels to hide warships and fighter planes.

Burma and North Korea severed diplomatic relationship in 1983, after North
Korean agents attempted to assassinate the visiting South Korean President
Chun Du-hwan. But both countries officially announced resumption of
diplomatic relations in 2007.

Russia and Burma have maintained over 60 years of diplomatic relations.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

July 22, Irrawaddy
As foreign aid workers leave, food security concerns grow – Lawi Weng

Survivors of last year’s deadly Cyclone Nargis are worried that the
departure of foreign aid workers from the Irrawaddy delta will expose them
to even greater food insecurity, according to local sources.

“Food insecurity is growing because all the foreign NGO workers are
leaving,” said Aye Kyu, a member of the National League for Democracy’s
disaster committee in Laputta, one of the areas worst hit by the cyclone
that struck on May 2-3 of last year. He said that there were only a few
foreign aid workers still in Laputta and no new ones were coming.

Villager try to catch money thrown by donors during the opening ceremony
of the first cyclone shelter in Pyar Pone Township in Burma's delta region
on May 2. (Photo: Reuters)
More than a year after the disaster, many people in the delta are still
struggling to meet their basic needs. Some survive by catching fish and
selling it, while many others depend on loans to keep their heads above
water, according to Aye Kyu.

“They go from house to house in the morning to borrow money,” he said.

According to a survey conducted by the United Nations World Food Program
in Laputta and Bogalay townships in February, 51 percent of households
reported that they are still relying on food aid from humanitarian
agencies, while only 25 percent said they could feed themselves. The
report also said that about 83 percent of households have gone into debt
to purchase rice.

Local aid workers in Rangoon said that many foreign aid workers were
leaving because the Burmese regime wants international NGOs and UN
agencies to hire more local staff. They added that the authorities are
also worried about foreign workers bringing news out of the country.

According to a senior official of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), the
main body in charge of coordinating the relief effort, about 200 foreign
aid workers were facing delays in getting visas to enter the country.

Other sources close to the TCG said that the visa restriction was partly
due to the Burmese junta’s anger over Thailand’s criticism of the trial
against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is facing five years in
prison for allegedly violating the conditions of her house arrest.

Thailand told the regime it should release Suu Kyi and all other political
prisoners in the country and beginning working towards national
reconciliation.

The uncertainty over whether foreign aid workers will be allowed to return
only adds to the anxieties of people whose livelihoods were devastated by
Cyclone Nargis. The storm wiped out the small-scale farming and fishing
sectors upon which most local people depend.

International and local NGOs have attempted to address the needs of the
most vulnerable segment of the population by delivering food aid to needy
households, especially the landless and female-headed households.

However, many farmers are still finding it hard to make ends meet due to
bad harvests over the past year, forcing many to buy rice on credit.

____________________________________

July 22, Xinhua
Myanmar tightens measures against A/H1N1

Myanmar health authorities have tightened measure against further spread
of influenza A/H1N1 in Yangon, to prevent from severe consequences,
sources with the Yangon municipal authority said on Wednesday.

For the move, the authorities have formed medical groups in every
townships of the municipal area and carrying out ten-day home monitoring
program on the people who returned from abroad, the report said.

Such specific surveillance campaign for controlling the spread of human
flu pandemic, has started this month.

There are so far four flu-infected cases reported in Myanmar, of them the
first two infected patients have recovered and been discharged from the
hospital after intensive care.

Myanmar reported its first confirmed case of A/H1N1 influenza on June 27
and reaching the case to four on July 17.

So far, the authorities have given medical check up to over two million
people at airports, ports and border check points and examined those
suspicious of the deadly disease since the outbreak in Mexico on April 28,
according to the state-run newspaper.

Of the over 15,000 people with symptoms of fever and suspected flu, 6,184
has been free from surveillance after ten days' period of monitoring and a
total of 8,825 people remain under surveillance.

Of the 49 people who underwent laboratory test, four were found infected
with A/H1N1 virus, it claimed, saying that the four human flu cases are
all imported ones.

The authorities continue to take preventive measures against the human flu
pandemic, advising all private clinics in the country to report or
transfer all flu-suspected patients, who returned from abroad, to local
state-run hospitals or health departments for increased surveillance.

____________________________________
ASEAN

July 22, Agence France Presse
ASEAN should consider Myanmar expulsion: Clinton

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should consider
expelling Myanmar if it does not release imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday.

Asked on Thai television whether ASEAN should kick out the military-ruled
member state if it does not free the pro-democracy leader, Clinton
replied: "It would be an appropriate policy change to consider."

Myanmar -- ASEAN's problem child since it joined the bloc in 1997 --
recently sparked outrage by putting the Nobel peace laureate on trial over
an incident in which an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside
house.

"I regret deeply this unfortunate incident, which she had nothing to do
with, and which served as an excuse for them to put her on trial," Clinton
said, referring to Yettaw's uninvited intrusion.

The ruling junta snubbed United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by
refusing to let him visit Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon's notorious Insein
prison, deepening concerns in the international community.

US President Barack Obama has described the court proceedings as a "show
trial" and Myanmar has already been slapped with US sanctions for its
detention of political prisoners.

On Tuesday Clinton also said she was "deeply concerned" by reports of
human rights in Myanmar, "particularly by actions that are attributed to
the Burmese military concerning the mistreatment and abuse of young
girls."

Concerns over Myanmar's possible military cooperation with North Korea are
set to dominate discussions at Asia's biggest security forum in the Thai
resort island of Phuket, where Clinton arrived on Wednesday from Bangkok.

Responding to Clinton, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said his
country, an ASEAN member, opposed expelling Myanmar from the bloc.

"We are still in favour of discussing with Myanmar so that they will be
serious in implementing the roadmap towards democratisation," Najib told
reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win met his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi
Nakasone in Phuket on Wednesday, and the issue of Aung San Suu Kyi came
up, a spokesman for the Japanese minister said.

Nakasone urged Myanmar to release all political prisoners, resume dialogue
with the opposition and prepare a "positive environment" for elections
promised by the ruling generals in 2010, the spokesman said.

Nyan Win "listened very carefully" and explained that Myanmar "did its
best to assist" Ban when he visited the country earlier this month, added
the spokesman.

Nyan Win said Myanmar's government "responded as they believed
appropriate" to Ban's request to visit her, the Japanese spokesman said.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

July 22, Thaidian News
Indian lawmakers call for Suu Kyi’s release

A forum of Indian lawmakers has urged Myanmar’s military junta to release
incarcerated pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Gathering under the banner of the Indian Parliamentarians’ Forum For
Democracy In Burma (IPFDB), the lawmakers said Suu Kyi’s release is
essential for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

“Since she had swept the polls last year, her release from the jail would
be the essential point in the process of restoration of democracy in
Burma,” said Sharad Joshi, convener of the forum.

Others called for an independent foreign policy on Myanmar.

“India must have its own policy towards Burma and it will add to the moral
authority of India not only in the Southeast Asia but also in the world.
We need to have our own independent policy towards Burma and India must
come out openly denouncing what the military junta is doing in Burma,”
said D.Raja of the CPI.

India wants Myanmar to expedite political reform and national
reconciliation but has also reaffirmed its desire to build on their strong
relationship despite pressure from the West.

Suu Kyi faces three to five years in prison if found guilty for breaking
the terms of her house arrest by letting an American intruder stay for two
days after he swam to her home in May.

Suu Kyi has been detained for more than 13 of the last 19 years.
____________________________________

July 22, China Post
Malaysian officers held over Myanmar migrant sale

Malaysian authorities have arrested five immigration officers suspected of
selling illegal immigrants from Myanmar to human traffickers, police said
Tuesday.

It is the first time Malaysia has found evidence that government officials
were involved in the forced labor exploitation of Myanmar migrants at its
border with Thailand — an accusation that prompted the U.S. State
Department to put Malaysia on a list of top trafficking offenders last
month.

Police federal crimes investigation head Mohamad Bakri Zinin said
authorities have arrested five Immigration Department officers and four
bus drivers over the past five days.

Investigations showed the officers brought Myanmar migrants — who lived in
Malaysia without valid travel documents — to Malaysia's northern border
with Thailand and handed them to human traffickers in exchange for up to
600 ringgit (US$170) for each.

The traffickers took the migrants into Thailand and told them to pay 2,000
ringgit (US$570) each for their freedom or they would be forced to work in
the fishing industry, Mohamad Bakri said.

“These things really happen,” Mohamad Bakri said.

All nine arrested could be charged for profiting from the exploitation of
trafficked persons, he said. The bus drivers allegedly helped transport
the migrants to the border.

If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison. The officers arrested
were reportedly senior state-level personnel. Immigration officials could
not immediately be reached for comment.

In April, a report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said
illegal Myanmar migrants deported from Malaysia have been forced to work
in brothels, fishing boats and restaurants across the border in Thailand
if they had no money to buy their freedom.

The U.S. State Department recommended that Malaysia fully implement and
enforce its anti-trafficking laws — which have been in place for several
years — and increase prosecutions, convictions and sentences for
trafficking.

The United Nations refugee agency has registered more than 48,000 refugees
in Malaysia, most from Myanmar. But community leaders estimate the number
of people from military-ruled Myanmar living in Malaysia is about twice
that.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 22, Voice of America
US House approves extension of ban on imports from Burma – Dan Robinson

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a one year renewal of a ban
on imports from Burma.  Burma was also the topic of remarks on the floor
of the U.S. Senate where a Republican senator discussed remarks by
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about military cooperation between
Burma and North Korea.

In extending the import ban, lawmakers cited oppression by the ruling
military government, and what the U.S. and other countries have called a
sham trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The import prohibition is contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy
Act Congress approved in 2003 and also applies to direct or third country
imports of jade and gemstones from Burma.

New York Democrat Joseph Crowley sponsored the measure renewing the ban,
which was approved by voice vote.  He referred to the Burmese military
government's rejection of diplomatic efforts aimed at obtaining Aung San
Suu Kyi's release.

"The junta has also rejected recent diplomatic outreach which would have
been well-received in the global community," said Joseph Crowley.
"Specifically the junta refused U.N. Secretary General Ban-ki-Moon's
request to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, the
leader of the non-violent movement for democracy and human rights in
Burma.  Not only did the junta refuse Aung San Suu Kyi's release, they
even refused Ban ki-Moon's request to meet with her.  The Burmese regime
must be stopped."

Texas Republican Kevin Brady said while the best hope for change in Burma
remains multilateral action, the U.S. must maintain sanctions.

"I view import sanctions with great skepticism and always have," said
Kevin Brady. "But these Burma sanctions are crafted to maximize their
ability to effect change."

Burma was also a topic of discussion in the U.S. Senate where an amendment
on North Korea was being considered as part of defense authorization
legislation.

The amendment by Republican Sam Brownback proposed placing North Korea
back on the official U.S. government list of nations designated as state
sponsors of terrorism, and would have placed the Senate on record
supporting "meaningful consequences" for hostile and provocative actions.

North Korea was removed from the list in the waning days of the Bush
administration and the Obama administration has been considering whether
to re-designate it.

To a list including North Korea's resumed nuclear activities, missile
proliferation, and imprisonment of two American journalists, Brownback
added Secretary Clinton's remarks in Bangkok, Thailand expressing concern
about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma.

"Here is today's Washington Post, this is even new information that I was
finding shocking what is taking place, about North Korea building
mysterious military ties with the military junta in Burma now taking place
and the possibility of them giving military equipment and supplies, I
suppose even nuclear arms and missile technology to the military
government in Burma," said Sam Brownback.

In her remarks in Bangkok, Secretary Clinton said the U.S. takes seriously
growing concerns about military cooperation between North Korea and Burma,
which she said would be destabilizing for the region and a direct threat
to Burma's neighbors.
Senator John Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
said Brownback's amendment would complicate and undermine delicate
diplomatic efforts underway regarding North Korea, including steps to
secure the release of American journalists Laura Ling, right, and Euna
Lee.

Kerry said the success the U.S. and other nations had in turning around a
North Korean ship suspected of carrying arms or other materials from North
Korea to Burma demonstrates that such efforts can be effective.

"A North Korean ship suspected of carrying arms to Burma turned around,
after it was denied bunkering services in Singapore," said John Kerry.
"And the government of Burma itself warned that the ship would be
inspected on arrival to insure that it complied with the U.N. arms
embargo.  So, that is real, that is happening."

News reports quoted U.S. officials traveling with Secretary Clinton as
saying concerns about Burma and North Korea extend to possible nuclear
cooperation, but said information about this is incomplete.

Burma is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which
requires international inspections of any nuclear facilities.  Burma
signed an agreement with Russia in 2007 for construction of a nuclear
research center and 10 megawatt light-water nuclear reactor, which experts
said could not be used to develop nuclear weapons and would be subject to
inspection.

The Obama administration has been conducting a review of U.S. policy
toward Burma, but a final report was delayed, in part to await the outcome
of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's trial on charges, widely
condemned by the internationally community, of violating the terms of her
detention.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

July 22, Irrawaddy
Clinton’s Burma message – Aung Zaw

Hillary Clinton’s message to Burma was loud and clear, but it is still
unclear what direction exactly the US will take in trying to engage the
troubled country.

Upon arriving in Bangkok, the latest troubles in Burma were waiting for
the US secretary of state to comment on. However, Burma is no stranger to
Clinton, since her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was the first
world leader to impose economic sanctions on Burma in 1997. Today, Burma
is still the region’s recalcitrant, rogue regime, regularly putting its
allies and partners in the hot seat of world opinion.

Clinton said that the US is deeply concerned by the reports of continuing
human rights abuses in Burma, and particularly by actions that are
attributed to the Burmese military concerning the rape and abuse of young
women.

It was anticipated that the US would condemn Burma’s poor human rights
record, the ongoing Aung San Suu Kyi trial and the slow process of
democratization. But the abuse of women’s rights was a new message on
Clinton’s part.

Also, she highlighted the growing military ties between Burma and North
Korea. Before her arrival, there were persistent reports of Burma’s secret
military mission to North Korea and Burma’s keen interest in buying
ballistic missiles.

“Now, we know that there are also growing concerns about military
cooperation between North Korea and Burma, which we take very seriously,”
Clinton said. “It would be destabilizing for the region. It would pose a
direct threat to Burma’s neighbors.”

Her remarks won’t go down well with Burma’s main backers, China and
Russia, who insist that Burma doesn’t pose a direct threat to regional
peace and security.

The leaked 37-page document with photographs of the regime’s No 3 man, Gen
Shwe Mann, who made a secret mission to Pyongyang in November via China,
evidently show that the clandestine military ties between the two nations
are well-advanced.

Informed sources confirmed that US and Japan intelligence agencies had
been well-informed about Burma’s secret mission to North Korea long before
the story broke in the exiled media.

Last month, Japanese police arrested a North Korean and two Japanese
nationals for allegedly trying to export a magnetic measuring device to
Burma that could be used in missile development.

In any case, Clinton’s clearly worded message will definitely set off
alarm bells in Naypyidaw. It’s also known that the paranoid generals have
sought advice from North Korea to build tunnels and military facilities in
case of a foreign invasion or proxy war. The military regime is actively
seeking jet fighters, sophisticated air defense systems and anti-aircraft,
in order to have top-line defensive and offensive military weapons. The
leaked document led to the arrest of several Burmese civilians and
military officials by the authorities.

US strong advocate for democracy

Since the current regime came into power in the bloody coup of 1988, the
US has been a strong ally of Burma’s democracy movement and political
opposition groups.

Under President Barack Obama, US policy on Burma is undergoing a review.
State Department officials said that the ongoing trial of Aung San Suu Kyi
will affect the policy review. It is predicated that the new policy will
be mixture of carrots and sticks. The US would like to exercise more
diplomatic leverage to engage the hermit-like regime while maintaining
targeted sanctions as sticks. The US is also interested in developing a
more concentrated regional approach, involving the key countries in
Southeast Asia.

Skeptics say that since the regime has little interest in engagement with
the West, it will be difficult to depart from the previous policy adopted
by the Bush administration.

Perhaps hopefully, it was once believed that the generals might want to
seek a more normal relationship with the West, since Obama came into
power. However, the ongoing bizarre trial of Suu Kyi and the North Korean
military connection doesn’t go down well with the US, the EU or most Asean
countries.

That doesn’t leave the US or other countries much room to try to normalize
the relationship.

In the past, the absence of active US engagement in trying to solve the
complicated problems of the region has paved the way for China’s rise in
influence. China is Burma’s and North Korea’s major ally.

Thus, aside from Burma, the good news is Clinton’s broader message that
the US is ready to resume an active leadership role, working in
cooperation with Asian nations.

Clinton is already offering little carrots. Unlike former President Bush
who called Burmese leaders tyrants, Clinton’s message to the generals was
mixed.

“Our position is that we are willing to have a more productive partnership
with Burma if they take steps that are self-evident,” she said.

It’s unlikely the generals will follow-up on Clinton’s offer, even though
they are listening carefully.

Clinton’s concern about the growing military ties between Burma and North
Korea is well noted.

Dealing with the generals is like dealing with an infectious disease that
could spread quickly—often it is hard to prescribe the right treatment—and
nobody can predict the outcome.

The international community must work together to find the right
prescription that will cure Burma’s ills. The danger is that its problems
not only affect it, but they could spill over and infect the entire
region.