U.S. wants Burma to reach out to ethnic communities

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 21:43 Mungpi

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The United States on Tuesday said it would like to see Burma opening up its political process and reaching out to various the ethnic communities as the Southeast Asian nation gears up for a general election later this year, its first in two decades.

Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, told reporters in Washington, “We’d like to see Burma open up its political process.”

“It’s important for the Government of Burma to reach out not only to those who wish to be politically active, but also to the various ethnic communities within Burma,” Crowley added.

But in response to news reports of the possibilities of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi being released when her sentence expires in November, Crowley said, “We have long demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. We think that that should still be done and as quickly as possible.”

Media reports earlier this week quoted Burmese Home Minister Maung Oo as having said the Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate would be freed in November, and the Vice-Chair of her National League for Democracy party, Tin Oo, in February.

But observers interpret the junta’s plan could be to release the Burmese opposition leader only after or immediately prior to the general election, the fifth step in the junta’s seven-step roadmap to democracy.

“I think the idea that her release will conveniently come after the election is unfortunate, but we will continue to press the Burmese Government for her release,” Crowley added.

The U.S., since adopting a new policy toward Burma in 2009, has begun direct talks with junta officials, sending Assistant Secretary for State Kurt Campbell to Naypyitaw late last year, while continuing to maintain existing sanctions.