U.S. President Barack Obama will promote a U.S. ally in China's backyard, and try to defend human rights, the President of Myanmar to visit the White House at the age of 47, his country became the first head maneuvers Monday.
Human rights organizations and some U.S. lawmakers worried about Obama's too fast, forged half a century of military rule in Myanmar, Myanmar is also known as China relations in 2011 after a dramatic breakthrough.
U.S. officials believe that the quasi-military government of President Thein Sein (Thein Sein) - democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and hundreds of political prisoners, the abolition of censorship, the legalization of trade unions and protests - reform and change and worth supporting Obama, who confirmed the end of Myanmar's pariah status with the West landmark visit last November.
However, ethnic and sectarian violence, especially in the western Rakhine State, has deteriorated, as Washington began to ease sanctions Reuters report released last week found that a similar policy of apartheid separation of a small number of Muslims in the prison-like slums.
Last year, at least 192 people were killed in violence between the Rakhine and deprived of their citizenship Myanmar Rohingya Muslim ethnic Buddhists. Most of the victims and the homeless in the attack of the 14 million people are Muslims.
Has long been the Government of Myanmar's poor human rights record, especially in resource-rich areas inhabited by ethnic minority Shan, Karen and Kachin.
Headquartered in Washington, the U.S. movement in Myanmar said 1,100 minority Rohingya and Kachin 200-250, the political prisoners in the past year, the situation has led some people to question the Washington should go far in its policy shift.
"When they abuse the minority, it really undermine their credibility, undermines our ability to work with them, said:" Republican Congressman Trent Franks, one group of members of Congress advocate the lifting of U.S. sanctions more slow.
Obama administration officials believe that deepened and sustained reform, Thein Sein must be able to demonstrate tangible benefits to overcome the opposition of powerful military leaders. To back up, Washington has narrowed the scope of its business dealings with Myanmar officials and businessmen ban.
"Yes, there is more work to do, but they have made significant progress, they have developed an ambitious reform agenda, we encourage them to continue to do more," U.S. State Department spokesman Jen Psaki told reporters, Friday after the release of 23 political prisoners in Myanmar.
On Monday, the two countries will announce the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which will lead to regular meetings to promote trade, labor standards and investment plans, business leaders familiar with the problem.
Strategic importance
Obama's Myanmar policy to support the strategic objectives of the United States, Myanmar, Tibet in China and India, its isolation from Western countries, 60 million people in Congress criticized.
Long the United States and Myanmar estranged relations with the U.S., grouped with the 10 ASEAN countries in Southeast Asia, it seems Washington as a counterbalance the more confident China dragged down in recent years.
Ernest Bower, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Southeast Asia and to improve relations with Myanmar, into broader U.S. policy to revive the Asia-Pacific relations.
"Myanmar is a keystone state, linking China, Southeast Asia and India," he said, if we do not get it right, we will not be able to play the chess game requires in order to deal with China.
However, violations of human rights concerns are hindering Thein Sein Thein Sein, a retired general, who is the U.S. Treasury Department's Specially Designated national visa blacklist last year to facilitate participation in the U.S. more comprehensive embrace.
Thein Sein was a close confidante of former military ruler Than Shwe, who ran Myanmar in 19 years, saw large-scale imprisonment of opponents during knockdown of pro-democracy demonstrators and the widespread abuse of the ethnic minority areas.
Jennifer Quigley, the head of the Burma Campaign, said that even without killing Rakhine State, Myanmar military's heavy-handed forced land seizures and corruption trade Kachin and multi-ethnic Myanmar other countries in natural resources Western countries should be given pause.
Myanmar's most coveted resources - natural gas, minerals, precious stones and wood - in ethnic areas, theater for decades has remained basically unchanged reform lies, she said.
White House welcomed Thein Sein our biggest concern is that it reinforces the positive impression that he and what is happening in Burma, and we have serious doubts about his pursuit of key reforms are not interested, "Quigley said.
The military has run Myanmar since 1962 Ne Win staged a coup, he invited visit to Washington in 1966, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson (Lyndon Johnson) is the last such visit by the country's head of state.
The EU has moved faster than the United States of Myanmar, trade, economic and personal last month released its final sanctions, although it retains the arms embargo.
Earlier this month, Obama canceled prohibit U.S. entry visa to Myanmar's military rulers and their associates, investment or business since the mid-1990s of the 20th century, involved in repression remained sanctions.
Franks and Democratic U.S. Rep. Rush Holt budget legislation, to the newborn by the Obama administration to expand U.S. military relations with the Burmese army, until this country to stop the abuse of the ethnic group responsible for formulating reform to reduce the tremendous role of the armed forces in the economy hold come back.
"Myanmar's military perpetrators of human rights violations is historic, and it can be speculated that the perpetrators sanctions against them should be the last to go," Holt said.
 
 



Other News:
Recommended household appliances fitting for NSK Bearings
Obama walks a fine line with Myanmar president's landmark visit
Yahoo buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion, vows not to screw it up
Motor bearings generally use sodium based grease
Biggest traders helping EU oil probe, not in it
Tea party looks to take advantage of moment
Obama urges Myanmar to stop violence against Muslims
Los Angeles mayoral race narrows, latest opinion poll shows