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US President Obama in landmark Burma visit | US President Obama in landmark Burma visit |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Barack Obama is making a historic visit to Burma, the first by a sitting US president. | US President Barack Obama is making a historic visit to Burma, the first by a sitting US president. |
Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets of Rangoon as he drove to meet President Thein Sein. | Crowds of people, some waving US flags, lined the streets of Rangoon as he drove to meet President Thein Sein. |
He also met pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and later delivers a speech at Rangoon University. | |
The visit is intended to show support for the reform process put in place by Thein Sein's government since the end of military rule in November 2010. | |
Critics warn the visit could be too hasty, with political prisoners behind bars and ethnic conflicts unresolved. | Critics warn the visit could be too hasty, with political prisoners behind bars and ethnic conflicts unresolved. |
'No illusions' | 'No illusions' |
Mr Obama touched down in Rangoon in Air Force One on Monday morning after a short flight from Thailand. He is spending some six hours in the country but will not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. | Mr Obama touched down in Rangoon in Air Force One on Monday morning after a short flight from Thailand. He is spending some six hours in the country but will not visit the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. |
Instead his time will be spent in Burma's commercial capital - as well as meeting top leaders, he will address students at a university at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the regime. | Instead his time will be spent in Burma's commercial capital - as well as meeting top leaders, he will address students at a university at the heart of pro-democracy protests in 1988 that were violently suppressed by the regime. |
Mr Obama is also expected to announce an aid pledge worth $170m (£107m). | Mr Obama is also expected to announce an aid pledge worth $170m (£107m). |
Addressing journalists after his meeting with Thein Sein, Mr Obama said he recognised that the country was taking "just the first steps on what will be a very long journey". | Addressing journalists after his meeting with Thein Sein, Mr Obama said he recognised that the country was taking "just the first steps on what will be a very long journey". |
"But we think a process of democratic and economic reform here in Myanmar [Burma] that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities," he said. | |
Thein Sein said the two sides had reached agreements "for development of democracy in Myanmar and for promoting of human rights to be of international standard". | Thein Sein said the two sides had reached agreements "for development of democracy in Myanmar and for promoting of human rights to be of international standard". |
The two sides would continue to work together to develop education and healthcare services, he said. | The two sides would continue to work together to develop education and healthcare services, he said. |
Mr Obama went on from that meeting to talks with Ms Suu Kyi at the lakeside home where she spent many years under house arrest. | |
The US president and his team also made a brief stop at Shwedagon Pagoda, the Rangoon landmark that has been at the heart of many key moments in the country's history. | |
Mr Obama is being accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who returns to Burma almost a year after her first visit. | Mr Obama is being accompanied by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - who returns to Burma almost a year after her first visit. |
Thein Sein's government came to power after widely-criticised polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. | Thein Sein's government came to power after widely-criticised polls in November 2010 that saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government. |
Since then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted. | Since then - to the surprise of many - his administration has embarked on a reform process. Many - but not all - political prisoners have been freed, censorship has been relaxed and some economic reforms enacted. |
Ms Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament, after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April. | Ms Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest shortly after the polls. Her NLD party, which boycotted the elections, has since rejoined the political process. It now has a small presence in parliament, after a landslide win in by-elections deemed generally free and fair in April. |
In response, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement. | In response, many Western nations have relaxed sanctions against Burma and begun a process of engagement. |
But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved. | But rights groups have cautioned against a rush to embrace the South East Asian nation, warning that political prisoners remain behind bars and ethnic conflicts are unresolved. |
In recent months, bitter communal violence between Muslim Rohingyas and Buddhist Rakhine people in Rakhine state has left more than 100,000 people - mostly Muslim Rohingyas - displaced. | In recent months, bitter communal violence between Muslim Rohingyas and Buddhist Rakhine people in Rakhine state has left more than 100,000 people - mostly Muslim Rohingyas - displaced. |
A recent prisoner amnesty reportedly included no political prisoners. The Burmese government has since announced another one which, say activists, does include some political detainees. | A recent prisoner amnesty reportedly included no political prisoners. The Burmese government has since announced another one which, say activists, does include some political detainees. |
Mr Obama has stressed that his visit is not an unqualified endorsement of the Burmese government. | Mr Obama has stressed that his visit is not an unqualified endorsement of the Burmese government. |
"I don't think anybody is under any illusion that Burma's arrived, that they're where they need to be," he said in Bangkok on Sunday. | "I don't think anybody is under any illusion that Burma's arrived, that they're where they need to be," he said in Bangkok on Sunday. |
"On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they had achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we'd be waiting an awful long time," he added. | "On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they had achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we'd be waiting an awful long time," he added. |
After visiting Burma, Mr Obama will head to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region. | After visiting Burma, Mr Obama will head to Cambodia to join a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, in a trip that underlines the shift in US foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region. |