BURMA: U.S. Diplomat Meets With Junta

A senior U.S. diplomat made an unexpected visit to Burma, in the hopes of shaping a new policy America takes with the ruling military junta.

Stephen Blake, the State Department's director of the Office for Mainland Southeast Asia, was the first American diplomat to visit Naypyidaw, the government's new location. This visit came a month after the new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. would be reviewing its policies toward the Burma, in hopes of making some headway in terms of human rights and to "more effectively help the Burmese people". Gordon Druguid, spokesman for the State Department, was careful to note that this does not indicate a change in policy towards the junta, but said, "While we have not yet finalized our approach, we remain committed to encouraging a genuine dialogue between the Burmese authorities and opposition that leads to a free and democratic Burma that respects the rights of its diverse citizens and is at peace with its neighbors."

Blake met with 3 different groups during his trip: the foreign minister, U Nyan Win; the opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD); and representatives of the minority group, which has recently been in the news for suffering human rights abuses.

The Burmese state-run newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, described the talks as "cordial discussions on issues of mutual interests and promotion of bilateral relations".

The State Department made note that visits like this have happened before with people of Blake's seniority, but the junta noted it was the first diplomat to do so. Blake's visit was part of a five nation tour in the region.

I believe that this visit is a good sign that Burma is not off the new administration's radar. The pointed words by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton show a commital to the mission of bringing democracy to Burma. She was reported saying, "Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn’t influenced the Burmese junta." This blunt language and proposed change in policy should be recognized and applauded. Ideally, the United States would also put pressure on nations in the ASEAN to speak up, and try to generate more of a response from the official international community.

Also, it's good to hear that after 18 years the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has declared that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's detention is a violation of international and Myanmar law. Maybe in another 15 years we can get some action in Darfur.

--by Alex Hammer

BURMA: Johns Hopkins Calls For U.N. Investigation Into Junta Cyclone Response

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Medicine is asking the United Nations to investigate the military junta's response to Cyclone Nargis in Burma. Chris Beyer of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says that the junta mishandled the situation to a criminal point, even calling the situation a "crime against humanity".

The cyclone, which hit last year, has killed over 130,000 people, and caused $10 billion in damages. The military junta government was very strict about allowing aid in, even though many countries were offering, the junta turned back many, citing problems with the packages, and other reasons for not accepting the aid. Many claim that the junta's stalemate and playing games with relief efforts caused more deaths than could have been prevented had aid gotten to where it was needed in time. There were reports of people being forced to leave shelters early, forced to do manual and child labor for aid, and sent back to dilapidated conditions, this being only a few of the criticisms.

The call to action by Johns Hopkins goes against a recent report by the U.N., ASEAN, and the Burmese junta, claiming that the junta is beginning to have a "higher degree of confidence". The tripartite report recommended another $700 million in relief funding.

It is my opinion that this is a step in the right direction, because letting the junta off the hook for all the damage they have caused is criminal and morally bankrupt, so here's to Johns Hopkins for not letting this issue get lost over time, as so many human rights abuses seem to go among the televised media and public in general (though the former might be the reason for the latter). This call for the U.N. to act will most likely be shut down by Russia and China, the two nations who (almost) always cast a vote against human rights investigations, condemnations, etc.

-- by Alexander Hammer

Angelina Jolie asks Thai government to aid refugees

Angelina Jolie makes headlines again but this time in Thailand. Yet again she is asking for help to those less fortunate and innocent. Jolie has spent several years as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and Wednesday brought international attention to the refugee problem.

Her request was to permit greater freedom for thousands of refugees stuck in camps after fleeing neighboring Myanmar. There are approximately 110,000 refugees in nine camps. The U.N. estimated that about 5,000 have fled for northern Thailand already.

While visiting the camps Jolie and husband, Brad Pitt, sat down and talked with refugees. One woman told of how she had been born in the camp and was currently raising her children in one and neither of them have been outside the camps.

Jolie is hoping to work with the government to speed up the process of admissions so therefore they do not need to go back to Burma.


--by Mary Baumer (Thailand)