This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/obama-lands-in-burma-amid-criticism-over-countrys-human-rights-abuses/2014/11/12/3b867972-69b2-11e4-bafd-6598192a448d_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Obama lands in Burma amid criticism over country’s human rights abuses Obama’s next Asian challenge: Rights groups criticize U.S. priorities in Burma
(about 1 hour later)
BEIJING — Before President Obama left for Asia this week, his top advisers met privately in Washington with human rights activists to discuss concerns over government abuses in Burma and Hong Kong, hoping to head off criticism of the president’s visit. BEIJING — Before President Obama left for Asia this week, his top advisers met privately in Washington with human rights activists to discuss concerns over crackdowns in Burma and Hong Kong, hoping to head off criticism of the president’s visit.
Perhaps someone should have talked to Aung San Suu Kyi.Perhaps someone should have talked to Aung San Suu Kyi.
Last week, the Burmese democratic icon spoke bluntly about the sluggish pace of reforms in the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation and said the United States had been “overly optimistic” about human rights progress there.Last week, the Burmese democratic icon spoke bluntly about the sluggish pace of reforms in the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation and said the United States had been “overly optimistic” about human rights progress there.
“What significant reforms have been taken within the last 24 months?” she said at a news conference.“What significant reforms have been taken within the last 24 months?” she said at a news conference.
As Obama lands in Burma’s capital city Naypyitaw on Wednesday for a three-day visit, he is facing broader questions about his administration’s efforts to expand U.S. engagement in the Asia Pacific. Specifically, human rights advocates, aid workers and some in Congress say they are concerned that while the United States pursues strategic and economic partnerships in the region, it has not sufficiently emphasized the need for governments to respect free speech and safeguard religious and ethnic minorities. As Obama headed for Burma’s capital Naypyitaw on Wednesday for a three-day visit, he faced broader questions about his administration’s efforts to expand U.S. engagement in the Asia Pacific.
The Obama administration has held up Burma as the crowning diplomatic achievement of its Asia strategy. Three years ago, the United States offered political and economic support after President Thein Sein showed signs of pushing for an end to a half-century of oppressive military rule. Administration officials believe that Burma can serve as an example of the United States’ commitment to budding democracies — and a clear alternative to China’s influence in the region. Specifically, human rights advocates, aid workers and some in Congress say they are concerned that the U.S. drive for strategic and economic partnerships in the region has taken priority of demands for governments to respect free speech and safeguard religious and ethnic minorities.
The Obama administration has held up Burma as the crowning diplomatic achievement of its Asia strategy.
Three years ago, the United States offered political and economic support after President Thein Sein showed signs of pushing for an end to a half-century of oppressive military rule. Administration officials believe that Burma can serve as an example of the United States’ commitment to budding democracies — and a clear alternative to China’s influence in the region.
But two years after Obama made a historic visit to the country — where he and then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had an emotional meeting with Suu Kyi at her home in Rangoon — a renewed government crackdown on journalists and political dissidents has sparked international condemnation. And an ongoing campaign of violence against Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine continues unchecked.But two years after Obama made a historic visit to the country — where he and then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had an emotional meeting with Suu Kyi at her home in Rangoon — a renewed government crackdown on journalists and political dissidents has sparked international condemnation. And an ongoing campaign of violence against Rohingya Muslims in the western state of Rakhine continues unchecked.
By some counts, more than 100,000 Rohingya have fled the predominantly Buddhist nation over the past two years. Michele Bohana, a longtime human rights advocate on Asia, recently compared the situation in Rakhine to a concentration camp.By some counts, more than 100,000 Rohingya have fled the predominantly Buddhist nation over the past two years. Michele Bohana, a longtime human rights advocate on Asia, recently compared the situation in Rakhine to a concentration camp.
“The president, when he comes here, will have to speak out strongly about the obvious human rights challenges for the underprivileged and violations of the Rohingya community,” said Derek Mitchell, the U.S. ambassador to Burma. “It goes to the broader challenge . . . of getting the central government to take ownership and really assert themselves and do what needs to be done.” “The president, when he comes here, will have to speak out strongly about the obvious human rights challenges for the underprivileged and violations of the Rohingya community,” said Derek Mitchell, the U.S. ambassador to Burma, which also is known as Myanmar. “It goes to the broader challenge . . . of getting the central government to take ownership and really assert themselves and do what needs to be done.”
But the U.S. must strike a delicate balance chastising Sein on human right questions, while continuing to support his civilian government against an entrenched military junta.But the U.S. must strike a delicate balance chastising Sein on human right questions, while continuing to support his civilian government against an entrenched military junta.
Obama’s visit this week coincides with the East Asian and ASEAN summits in Naypyitaw, a pair of regional gatherings that the administration has elevated to a presidential-level priority in a bid to strengthen ties to fast-developing Southeast Asian nations. After two nights in Naypyitaw, where he is expected to meet with Sein, Obama will fly to the old capital of Rangoon, where he will hold a news conference with Suu Kyi, participate in a civil society roundtable and answer questions at a town hall-style event at Yangon University. Obama’s visit this week coincides with the East Asian and ASEAN summits in Naypyitaw, a pair of regional gatherings that the administration has elevated to a presidential-level priority in a bid to strengthen ties to fast-developing Southeast Asian nations.
After two nights in Naypyitaw, where Obama is expected to meet with Sein, he will fly to the old capital of Rangoon, where he will hold a news conference with Suu Kyi, participate in a civil society roundtable and answer questions at a town hall-style event at Yangon University.
White House officials said Obama has been mindful to highlight the value and importance of human rights on each of his trips to Asia. Last spring, Obama became the first U.S. president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 to visit Malaysia, where he celebrated America’s closer ties with the Muslim-majority nation.White House officials said Obama has been mindful to highlight the value and importance of human rights on each of his trips to Asia. Last spring, Obama became the first U.S. president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 to visit Malaysia, where he celebrated America’s closer ties with the Muslim-majority nation.
Advocates had called on the White House to reconcile Malaysia’s rapid modernization with the repression of political dissent and freedom of expression. Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government had used the nation’s anti-sodomy and sedition laws to sideline political opponents.Advocates had called on the White House to reconcile Malaysia’s rapid modernization with the repression of political dissent and freedom of expression. Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government had used the nation’s anti-sodomy and sedition laws to sideline political opponents.
In a joint news conference with Najib, Obama said the prime minister agreed that “more work needs to be done” in the realm of “respect for freedom of assembly, the respect for people of different races and different faiths and different political philosophies.”In a joint news conference with Najib, Obama said the prime minister agreed that “more work needs to be done” in the realm of “respect for freedom of assembly, the respect for people of different races and different faiths and different political philosophies.”
During his visit to Beijing this week, Obama met with new Indonesia President Joko Widodo and praised his nation for playing “an extraordinary role in promoting pluralism and respect for religious diversity” and rooting out extremism. During his visit to Beijing this week, Obama met with new Indonesia President Joko Widodo and praised his nation for playing “an extraordinary role in promoting pluralism and respect for religious diversity” and rooting out extremism. The Obama administration also has pushed hard to get the Chinese government to reverse its ban on foreign journalists in retribution for stories exposing Communist Party corruption.
Yet at times the president has appeared constrained by competing priorities. Obama opened his Asia visit in Beijing hoping to shore up his strained relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and forge new agreements on climate change, trade and security. On Monday, a day before Obama opened a series of formal meetings with Xi, an American reporter asked him if he agreed with Xi’s support for Hong Kong’s crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstrations on the island. Yet at times the president has appeared constrained by competing priorities.
Obama opened his Asia visit in Beijing hoping to shore up his strained relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and forge new agreements on climate change, trade and security. On Monday, a day before Obama opened a series of formal meetings with Xi, an American reporter asked him if he agreed with Xi’s support for Hong Kong’s crackdowns on the pro-democracy demonstrations in the former British colony.
Obama replied that China is still developing its political and economic systems and the United States does not “expect China to follow an American model in every instance.”Obama replied that China is still developing its political and economic systems and the United States does not “expect China to follow an American model in every instance.”
He added that: “Obviously, the situation between China and Hong Kong is historically complicated and is in the process of transition. And I think our primary message has been to make sure that violence is avoided as the people of Hong Kong try to sort through what this next phase of their relationship is to the mainland.” He added that: “Obviously, the situation between China and Hong Kong is historically complicated and is in the process of transition.”
The Obama administration has lobbied hard behind the scenes to take questions from reporters on Wednesday after the meetings. Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, refused to allow questions during Obama’s first trip here in 2009, embarrassing the White House. The Obama administration also has pushed Beijing to reverse its slowdown of visas for American journalists. On Wednesday, at a joint news conference, Obama more forcefully pushed Xi to confront China’s record on human rights, but he also struck notes of conciliation, including emphasizing that the United States does not support independence for Tibet.
Still, members of Congress have urged the administration to speak more forcefully. Members of Congress have urged the administration to speak more forcefully.
“America’s credibility and reputation around the world on human rights and religious freedom is at an all-time low. You haven’t seen the administration speak out very aggressively,” said Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), who helped lead efforts to punish China with economic measures in the wake of the government’s violent response to the 1989 Tiananmen uprising.“America’s credibility and reputation around the world on human rights and religious freedom is at an all-time low. You haven’t seen the administration speak out very aggressively,” said Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.), who helped lead efforts to punish China with economic measures in the wake of the government’s violent response to the 1989 Tiananmen uprising.
In Burma, Obama administration officials acknowledged that the progress has been fitful, but they say the United States remains committed to engaging with the Sein government because abandoning it now would risk making things worse. Mitchell emphasized that there was not a rift between Suu Kyi and the Obama administration despite her criticism. The White House views Burma’s democratic elections next fall as a key marker, although Suu Kyi remains constitutionally barred from running for the presidency. In Burma, Obama administration officials acknowledged that the progress has been fitful, but they say the United States remains committed to engaging with the Sein government because abandoning it now would risk making things worse.
The White House views Burma’s democratic elections next fall as a key marker, although Suu Kyi remains constitutionally barred from running for the presidency.
As for the Rohingya, Mitchell said most Burmese do not support U.S.-backed proposals to incorporate the Muslim minority into society.As for the Rohingya, Mitchell said most Burmese do not support U.S.-backed proposals to incorporate the Muslim minority into society.
“That puts us at odds with traditional allies within the country,” the ambassador said, “and simply means we need to be much more careful and smart about how we engage on this without violating our sacred principles and values.”“That puts us at odds with traditional allies within the country,” the ambassador said, “and simply means we need to be much more careful and smart about how we engage on this without violating our sacred principles and values.”
Mufson reported from Washington. Steven Mufson in Washington contributed to this report.