Senator seeks Burmese perspective on US policy

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 18:46 Mungpi

Oklahoma City (Mizzima) - Burmese activists and community leaders in the United States have urged US Senator Richard Lugar to continue pushing for targeted sanctions on Burma’s military rulers, as they say the junta has failed to respond positively to the Obama administration’s new engagement policy, according to a senatorial aide.
Keith Luse, a senior Foreign Relations Committee assistant to Senator Lugar, told Mizzima that Burmese ethnic leaders at a meeting in the senator’s electorate of Indiana state on Sunday had expressed their view that the US should maintain targeted economic sanctions against the regime.

The meeting was held to obtain feedback from Burmese activists and community leaders on the new US-Burma policy, launched by Democrat US President Barack Obama last September, Mr Luse said.

Senator Lugar, a Republican, is the ranking opposition leader on the committee. Democrat Senator John Kerry is the panel’s chairman.

According to Luse, with the Burmese junta not responding positively to the Obama administration’s engagement efforts, the various Burmese ethnic leaders at the meeting said, “Senator Lugar should continue to support sanctions ‘[more targeted against the junta]. And, the senator and Congress should encourage the Obama administration to press the UNSC to act on Burma being referred to the International Criminal Court,” added Luse, who attended the meeting on behalf of Senator Lugar, referring to the United Nations Security Council.

After more than a decade of imposing financial sanctions and diplomatically isolating the Southeast Asian nation, the US last September announced a policy to seek direct engagement with the Burmese military rulers, while maintaining existing sanctions.

US and Burmese officials then held meetings that included a visit by the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Dr Kurt Campbell, the highest ranking US official to visit Burma in 14 years.

However, no significant progress was made and the Burmese junta has lately been busy with its election plans, which the US ranks below international standards.

“As you are aware, the Obama administration has embarked on a new Burma policy. Senator Lugar is interested in obtaining feedback from Burmese in Indiana about this new policy approach. Do they agree, or do they have other suggestions?” Luse told Mizzima about the meeting on Sunday.

Fort Wayne, Indiana, is home to about 1,500 Burmese, the largest contingent of Burmese dissidents in the United States. Many were active in student and labour unions and political parties such as the opposition National League for Democracy. They had fled their homeland to escape the oppressive military regime.