U.S. Republican Senator Cory Gardner will introduce legislation on Wednesday, coinciding with the visit to Washington of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, that would require close consultation with Congress on lifting of any sanctions.
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Lex Rieffel told VOA if Aung San Suu Kyi can succeed in leading the transition to democracy and helping Myanmar achieve peace after 60 years of civil war, it would be an inspiration to other countries around the world which have long and protracted conflicts.
The move came as Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting the US for the first time since her party won a sweeping victory in the general election a year ago. “It is the right thing to do in order to ensure that the people of Myanmar see rewards from a new way of doing business and a new government”, Obama said.
The move comes only days after Obama’s week-long trip to Asia, where he sought to highlight the benefits of his signature “Asia pivot” strategy to the region.
Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who was held under house arrest in Myanmar for 15 years, told reporters she was “grateful” to the US for its support, and said work is still underway in the country to revise the constitution and pull the military further from the political system. “So I think that does reflect important progress inside of Myanmar and I think given that progress, I think it makes sense that the national emergency would be withdrawn and the sanctions lifted”, he said in response to a question. Penalties meant to block the drug trade and to bar military trade with North Korea would still apply, as would a visa ban barring some former and current members of the military from traveling to the U.S. Rohingya Muslims remain displaced by sectarian violence and denied citizenship.
Repealing the order allows the U.S.to remove sanctions against more than 100 individuals, businesses and organizations with ties to Myanmar’s military, which remains a powerful economic and political force. The military and associates who profited under junta rule still have huge stakes in the economy. She said the transport and energy sectors were suffering from decades of neglect, and support was needed to build the education and health systems and the skills of its people.
His administration views Myanmar’s transition from military rule as a major achievement of its effort to “rebalance” US foreign policy toward the Asia-Pacific region.
The White House announced Wednesday it restored trade benefits for the country that were suspended under President George H.W. Bush.
Suu Kyi last visited Washington in 2012 when she was still opposition leader.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hailed the announcement as “historic”.
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White House spokesman Josh Earnest pushed back on the notion the US was undercutting its leverage over Myanmar on human rights and constitutional reforms by lifting sanctions.
