Bangkok (AP) -- myanmar's military, long-term criticized as violations of human rights behavior, may be invited as observers to take part in the annual mattel joint military exercise next year, in Washington and Bangkok officials say, Friday.
Potential golden cobra "exercise invitation, after years of Burma was freezing of American regional activities, because Washington against the military regime before the crackdown. Thailand's golden cobra is the largest and oldest in the asia-pacific region of the United States military exercise.
In Burma on last year's elected government take reform, relationship turned and, although careful fear retrograde Burma's President cheng (Thein Sein) the government has set out to Washington.
In Washington, the pentagon press secretary George litle said, myanmar may be invited to work, this usually occurs in at the beginning of every year, but there has been no final decision. He added that this is Thailand and send the invitation consultation
"The United States is open to consider the requirements of the kingdom of Thailand, there is a small team Burma officers to attend as observers golden cobra observed humanitarian aid and relief and medical treatment, medical part of the practice, as long as it is in the U.S. efforts to protect human rights, civilian rule of military, anti-corruption efforts and other reform," Little said.
The United States is calling on Burma's old name, Burma, change the previous ruling military government.
Any from Burma's observer team will be limited in three officers, the pentagon spokeswoman Kathy · major Wilkinson said.
Thailand's defense ministry spokesman Thanathip Sawangsaeng in Bangkok said, a preliminary plans to invite Burma, but participants must be in a meeting agreed to action the end of this month. He said, Thailand has been lobbying Burma to join.
"We will need all to participate in national consensus, but in exercise including Burma move can be seen as trying to expand in the area of military preparation," he said.
U.S. embassy spokesman declined to comment on the report, the United States embassy in Burma Derek Mitchell said, in Rangoon said at a news conference, he doesn't have any of this information.
Burma has been slowly off a rogue state position, but the army support, but last year onstage's elected government, formulate the political and economic liberalization. Reform follow nearly 50 years of repression of military rule.
Pentagon spokesman litle says there is a bigger the United States government with the Burmese government efforts, including the recent visit of the leadership of the state council, including some of the defense staff, mainly focused on human rights.
"We are exploring opportunities and the Burmese government to discuss a series of problems," said Little.
Burma to political reconciliation and pro-democracy leader aung SAN suu kyi won the ease western sanctions imposed by the. In the golden cobra participation will improve relations with the us, especially and a sign.
However, many critics of military rule, highlighted in the present government forces of continuous power and influence, this is the constitutional guarantee, help to draft. They move, can strengthen military cautious attitude.
Appearance Zarni, Burma scholars, who is in the London school of economics of visiting scholars, Washington may invite myanmar "completely premature, abuse informed and too to self for interested."
And he said, continuing abuse, including the most recent reported mass violence LuoXingYa of Muslim minority army in Burma during the western violence, in their continued in northern kachin minority struggle.
Experience and history, the pentagon's military to military relations, the establishment of all over the world of democracy, human rights, and reform the dividend, especially crafty government country people don't know, "and Zarni in an email said ap." In southeast Asia, Indonesia, suharto, marcos the Philippines and endure temperature Burma spring, in the mind. "
Earlier this year a "golden cobra" exercise, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea's army, more than 10000 of all members. Other parts of the country are invited as observers to attend the meeting.
"Golden cobra" in the 1980 s began soon, push back to Thailand border south Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia and the overthrow of the Khmer rouge regime. Early functional exercise and concentrate on the conventional military offensive and defensive tactics and strategy.
In recent years, exercise has been centralized in peacekeeping, humanitarian and civil aid project.




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