According to AFP news
In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 17 members of Congress said they were “greatly concerned” by indications that the United States was considering lifting sanctions on Myanmar.
The lawmakers, led by longtime Aung San Suu Kyi champion Joseph Crowley, said that Myanmar’s leader Than Shwe had shown no desire to engage with the world’s only detained Nobel laureate.
“Than Shwe’s regime continues to perpetuate crimes against humanity and war crimes so severe that Burma has been called ‘Southeast Asia’s Darfur,’” they wrote.
They noted that Congress approved a law last year subjecting the Myanmar junta to sanctions until it releases all political prisoners and starts dialogue on bringing in democracy.
“We urge you to join us in standing firmly alongside Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s democracy movement,” they said.
April 19th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Yes, who says sanctions didn’t stick?
They did. Look at Thein Sein urging to help lift the sanctions every time he meets anybody at meetings or at his lair at Nay Pyi Daw.
Of course, sanctions did not bite much, due to some so-called democracies placing their self-interests first.
And also, Than Shwe has nothing in exchange for lifting sanctions.
Of course, he should not hope for something without nothing in exchange, a sort of universal understanding prevailing today.
Look at China and Russia protecting Than Shwe in the international arena in exchange for Burma’s natural resources and strategic position.
Today Burma is flooded with ethnic Chinese having their sway in the military run country.
And even UWSA is claiming autonomy unilaterally without any reservation for Than Shwe’s regime.
Remember Russia invading Georgia to protect ethnic Russians in Georgia when the Georgia government cracked down on ethnic Russians for claiming their enclaves as theirs.?
Trust me, Than Shwe will be seen kissing the feet of the likes of Weh Hseuh Kang and Boa Yao Xiang leading the UWSA today in a very near future. Ethnic Chinese like these drug runners would not dare look at Than Shwe even, if they have no backing from Chinese communists, I bet. This is a prelude and a run up to what is going to happen in Burma soon, when Than Shwe tries to disarm them prior to or after holding his farce 2010 elections.
Than Shwe has only on way out of this dilemma!
Cut a deal with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her ethnic leaders after abandoning his farce 2010 elections and releasing all political prisoners while there is still time and space and go into history.
Pressing ahead with his seven step road map would lead Than Shwe to oblivion under the boots of the Chinese communists only.
The choice is his!