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U.S. special envoy to Myanmar, evidence of a thaw between Washington and the military junta
by Yaung Ni Oo
Derek Mitchell has met representatives of Parliament, Aung San Suu Kyi, leaders of the opposition and ethnic minorities. Discussions focus on aid in the health sector and education. But there was also talk of economy and cooperation between the two countries. No comment on possible changes to the sanctions.
Yangon (AsiaNews) - Meetings with Burmese parliamentarians and government officials, face to face talks with the Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, discussions with opposition figures and leaders of ethnic minorities. It is a packed calendar of commitments for the U.S. Special Envoy for Burma Derek Mitchell, who arrived in Myanmar on September 9 for a five-day official visit. Economics, sanctions, closer trade relations with the South-East Asian country are at the heart of many issues in what is a first attempt at rapprochement after decades of frozen relations between Washington and the military regime in Naypyidaw, now replaced by a "civil" Parliament but tied hand in glove with the military leadership.
In the capital, Mitchell met with some MPs to discuss the working methods of Burma's democratic system and possible developments for the future. He confirmed the U.S. government’s interest in "future options" in terms of Myanmar’s economics and politics, calling for an "improvement" in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Yesterday in Yangon, however, the U.S. special envoy met with Aung San Suu Kyi and with the leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), with whom he discussed possible developments in the health and education. For the first time the Nobel Laureate spoke in public of the issue of U.S. aid. Unofficial sources reveal that the two also discussed political reform and national reconciliation. In a direct question on sanctions, Aung San Suu Kyi said that the issue was not addressed during the encounter.
The U.S. representative finally met with some representatives of the opposition and ethnic minorities. Aye Tha Aung, secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy, stressed the lack of equal rights compared to other parts of the Union of Myanmar and the need to amend the 2008 Constitution.
Also yesterday, Mitchell spoke with the councillor to Thein Sein, President of Myanmar, at a meeting held to be "positive" from the Burmese viewpoint. The U.S. special envoy also visited clinics for the treatment of HIV managed by the NLD, as well as volunteer centres and NGO Free Funeral Service, which provides free access to medicine, education, health care and post-mortems.