ALTSEAN-BURMA
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
campaigns, advocacy and capacity-building for human rights
Home
Research
Multimedia
Links
About Us
Download
.pdf format [106 Kb]
.doc format [134 Kb]
ALTSEAN Updates

Sign up to receive ALTSEAN reports and publications by e-mail.

 

NEW US POLICY: AN ALIBI FOR REGIONAL COMPLACENCY

 
Other Reports

By Publication

Burma Bulletin
Thematic Briefers
Report Cards
Issues & Concerns
Special Reports
Women's Voices

By Year

In September, the US unveiled its new Burma policy which calls for high-level engagement with the SPDC while leaving existing sanctions in place. However, Burma’s neighbors have deliberately misread Washington’s new approach and used it to justify greater tolerance of the regime’s escalating crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The misrepresentation has emboldened the SPDC’s sense that it can placate its neighbors through rhetoric instead of genuine reform; created a sense of complacency in the region that conditions in Burma are actually improving; and tacitly encouraged the SPDC to jail opposition leaders and persecute ethnic nationalities.

President Obama must speak up forcefully in favor of human rights defenders and the vital role of an independent civil society. US officials need to clearly articulate a set of benchmarks hinged on human rights and democracy to measure progress in Burma in the run-up to the 2010 elections.