United States of America

Major Facts

Statistics: aid: USAID will already funnel some $28 million into Burma-related programs this 2009, about 40% of which will go directly inside the country.
23 Sept 2009 - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Washington would shift its policy towards Myanmar by direct engagement with it while keeping sanctions in place
Communiqués: Overview of Sanctions
Policy reports:

Latest News:

11 Feb 2010 - the US will discuss the issue of sentencing Nyi Nyi Aung, a US citizen, by a Burmese court with the military junta in the dialogue process between the two countries.
10 Feb 2010 - The US government urged the Burmese military junta to immediately release a US human rights activist, Nyi Nyi Aung, saying his 3-year imprisonment could hinder the ongoing dialogue between the two countries.
2 Feb 2010 - US President Barack Obama earmarked $36.5 million in his 2011 budget to support democracy and humanitarian programs for Burma and along the Thai-Burma border
12 Jan 2010 - US secretary of state Hiliary Clinton to discuss 2010 election and Aung San Suu Kyi with Japanese Foreign Minister
30 Dec 2009 - US renewed its offer of better ties with Burma if it makes progress on democracy in its congratulations on Independence day
6 May 2009 - John Yettaw, an American man was arrested for swimming across a lake and sneaking into Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside home.
1 Apr 2009 - Deputy U.S. Secretary of State James B. Steinberg gave notice during a conference in Washington D.C. that the United States wants a "collaborative and constructive" approach on Burma, saying nations with sway over Burma's military government should avoid "recreating a mini version of the Great Game" The US was open to setting up new “flexible” frameworks similar to the six party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program

Recent Activity:

21 Oct 2009 - A delegation of pro-democracy leaders met US Sen. Jim Webb to present their views on the current situation in Burma and their perspective on the way forward, in particular with regard to sanctions and restoration of democracy in Burma. The delegation was led by Maung Maung, the general secretary of the exiled National Council of the Union of Burma, and Bo Hla Tint, the foreign minister of the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. They were accompanied by legal advisers from the Public International Law and Policy Group.

24 Oct 2009 - Charge d’Affairs of the US embassy in Rangoon Larry M. Dinger met Burmese junta’s Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj Gen Htay Oo

20 Oct 2009 - NLD hosted United States’ Chargé d’affaires Larry M. Dinger and two American diplomats

9 Oct 2009 - Aung San Suu Kyi met deputy heads of the U.S. and Australian missions and the ambassador of Britain, which represented the European Union

30 Sept 2009 - Democratic Senator Jim Webb, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, holds a panel/congressional hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of the US approach.

29 Sept 2009 - US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Marciel held their first meeting with Myanmar’s science minister U Thaung who led a delegation to New York

16 Aug 2009 - Yettaw was sent to Bangkok along with the visiting US Senator Jim Webb. The Burmese authorities said his release was purely on humanitarian grounds considering his deteriorating health

27 Jan 2009 - Former Burmese ambassador to the United States, U Ling Myaing visited the US.

Background

Diplomatic relations since: 1947
Burma Policy: Sanctions (undergoing review) - new "pragmatic engagement" policy
Major issues:

Human Rights
Sanctions
Drugs

Since 1988 USA has been a leading force in isolationist policy against the junta due in part to effective anti-SPDC campaigning by Burmese exile groups. However since the new Obama administration there have been renewed efforts to review the policy which has failed to influence the junta. Following policy review trips led by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel and the US now has a 'pragmatic engagment' with Burma; signalling a change in US as well as international policy with Burma. However on January 5 State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly said that the US has "not seen any meaningful steps by the regime to indicate it is putting in place measures that would lead to credible elections".

A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the Washington Post said that concerns about the military relationship between Burma and North Korea in part prompted the Obama administration in October 2009 to end the George W. Bush-era policy of isolating the military junta.

The release of Suu Kyi along with other political prisoners and a dialogue between the military junta and opposition leaders is the top priority of the Obama administration. Trying to persuade the government to change its tactics, to welcome an opposition, to allow the development of a democratic society. It is also continuing to support Aung San Suu Kyi.

US has also urged other international Partners - namely ASEAN and China - to persuade Burma to hold transparent polls.

Burmese book http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15351

Statements

18 March 2010 Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released a statement on Nyi Nyi Aung's release saying the United States must redouble its efforts to persuade the junta to open discussions with the opposition and ethnic groups, to conduct genuinely free and fair elections, and to honor the aspirations of the Burmese people for a peaceful transition to democratic rule.” "Since Secretary Clinton announced a review of U.S. Burma policy, the Obama administration has opened up pragmatic engagement with Burma, engaging not only the government, but all stakeholders – including political parties, ethnic minority groups and the opposition – to reaffirm the goal of a peaceful, stable, prosperous, unified and democratic Burma that respects the rights of all of its citizens. Secretary Clinton has worked closely with ASEAN allies and others, including participating in the Friends of Burma meeting at the UN General Assembly. And she dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, the highest level U.S. delegation to Burma in years, as a crucial step in beginning pragmatic engagement." Spokesman
26 Jan 2010 Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley told reporters at a daily news briefing: “It’s important for the Government of Burma to reach out not only to those who wish to be politically active, but also to the various ethnic communities within Burma.”
21 Jan 2010 Senator Jim Webb in his remarks at the Senate’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing on Washington’s engagement in Asia, said, “American sanctions and other policy restrictions have not only increased Chinese political and economic influence in Southeast Asia, they ironically serve as a double reward for China because all the while American interaction in East Asia has been declining” referring to Burma as a specific example.
19 Jan 2010 US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told the press that Washington has seen a "mixed bag" of results from the Military junta over democratic reforms but foresees more discussions in the near future.
31 Aug 2009 The Obama administration urged an end to the violence in Burma's Kokang region, calling for the Burmese government to launch a "genuine dialogue" with ethnic minority groups.
22 Jul 2009 US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has expressed grave concern over possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma at a press conference at the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers. She also said Asean should consider expelling Burma from the grouping if the ruling regime sentences the detained Nobel Peace Laureate, but later said “If she [Suu Kyi] were released, that would open up opportunities, at least for my country, to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma. But it is up to the Burmese leadership”

Major Deals and Cooperation

1989	US congress voted for the first time to provide US$500,000 in humanitarian aid to Burmese refugees, and another US$250,000 to support opposition democracy support opposition democracy in Myanmar.
June 1990	US Congress passed the Customs and trade act of 1990. impose economic sections if the Burmese government did not human rights conditions.
June 1994	Congressional resolution calling for sanctions against Myanmar while raising Human rights as the central issue.
Mid-September 1996	US Congress passed the White house supported Cohen-Feignstein Amendment attached to the 1997 foreign aid bill that called for contingent sanctions depending upon the future behaviour of the Burmese government towards the opposition.
3 October 1996	President Bill Clinton signed a proclamation “suspending the entry into the United States as immigrants and non-immigrants of persons from Burma who formulate implement or benefit from politics that impede Burma’s transition to democracy and the immediate family members of such persons”.
	Ban on textiles
20 May 1997	Imposed sanctions on all new investments in Myanmar, and imposed a broad ban on Myanmar officials and relatives travelling to America.
2003	US congress passed legislation imposing a complete ban on trade with Myanmar Burma Freedom and Democracy Act banned all imports from the country. It restricted financial transactions, froze the assets of some financial institutions and extended visa restrictions on officials.
2008	Myanmar was still put on the "Majors List" of "countries identified as major drug transit or major illicit producing countries" by the United States.
5 February 2008	Imposed banking sanctions against U Tay Za (the most prominent tycoon in Myanmar) and several business partners and their companies as well as family members of the military regime."
1 May 2008	President Bush authorized adding some government-owned enterprises to the existing list covered by U.S. financial sanctions.
July 2008	U.S. Senate on 22 July passed the JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act already approved by the House on 15 July
13 November 2008	U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control froze the assets of 17 enterprises and 26 persons in Myanmar who were accused of drug-trafficking
15 Jan 2009	The United States froze assets of two Burmese businessmen and their companies for aiding the military rulers of the country. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Thursday announced freezing assets of Burmese business tycoons Win Aung and Zaw Zaw, and their business entities accounting for 14 companies.
May 2009	US President Barack Obama renewed existing sanctions against Burma
28 July 2009	U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law a congressional resolution extending restrictions on imports from Myanmar contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.

High Level Visits

14 February 1994	US congressman William Richardson visited Yangon and met for four hours with Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt and twice for six hours in total with Aung San Suu Kyi. (accompanied by reporter from the New York times Mr Philip Shenton and permanent representative to the UNDP Mr Jehan Raheem)
June 1994	Director of Myanmar and Thailand Desk visited Yangon to explain US policy to the SLORC
Autumn 1994	Thomas C. Hubbard, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia visited Burma.
November 1995	US Ambassador to the UN Madeleine Albright visited Yangon meeting Secretary-1 Khin Nyunt and Foreign Minister Ohn Kyaw, as well as Aung San Suu Kyi
2007	United States took an unprecedented and previously unannounced step of meeting with three Myanmar ministers in Beijing
24 March 2009	US State Department, Director of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs Steven Blake meetings Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win and other officials in Naypyidaw
14-16 August 2009	Senator Jim Webb meets Sen-General Than Shwe, PM Thein Sein and Aung San Suu kyi
19 September 2009	U.S. Senator Jim Webb had talks with the country's Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Washington DC
2-3 November 2009	Scot Marciel, US Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Bureau and Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, Sr. Gen. Than Shwe; as well as PM General Thein Sein , Foreign Affairs Minister Nyan Win, Minister for Information Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan, Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung and Chief Justice U Aung Toe who is also Chairman of both the Commission for Drafting State Constitution and for Holding Nationwide Referendum. It was also allowed to hold separate meetings with ethnic representatives (Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Arakan League for Democracy and the Mon National Democracy Party), and central committee members of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
15 November 2009	Obama to meet PM Thein Sein on the sidelines of the annual APEC summit in Singapore
29 Sept 2009	US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Marciel held their first meeting with Myanmar’s science minister U Thaung who led a delegation to New York

EVENT TRACKER

2010.09.04	International	USA	Burma's Foreign Minister Nyan Win will attend the US-Asean summit convened by President Obama later this month in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
2010.11.20	International + Opposition	USA + NLD	Aung Sang Suu Kyi welcomed the U.S.-Myanmar dialogue and called for the U.S. to be practical about it, telling CNN that “There are lot of people who say that now that the U.S. has decided to engage with the military regime, they have turned their back on us. I don’t think like that". Suu Kyi added that the dialogue is positive step and that the Obama Administration has to analyze carefully which international sanctions could be lifted. She said that her party is studying the impact of such sanctions before openly support them.
2010.11.19	International	USA	US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a personal letter earlier in the week to Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a State Department spokesman
2010.11.15	International	USA	The Obama administration said that it would continue with its policy of simultaneous engagement and sanctions on the Burmese military junta and it is ready for talks with the new Burmese government. It will also be asking Myanmar about its plans for other political prisoners and ethnic minorities.
2010.11.08	International	USA + India	In an outspoken address to the Indian Parliament, US President Barack Obama strongly criticized New Delhi's policy on Burma.
2010.11.07	International	USA	US President Barack Obama criticised the elections in Burma today, stating that they would be “anything but free and fair”.
2010.10.29	International	USA	US State Department spokesman, P J Crowley, told reporters that the US is consulting with countries on how to move forward with regard to establishing the UN Commission of Inquiry against the Burmese military junta.
2010.10.28	International	USA	US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Myanmar’s military leaders to change their policies and release Aung San Suu Kyi. She also said that the Obama administration will continue to push for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity in Burma.
2010.10.18	International	USA	US State Department spokesman P. J. Crowley said restrictions imposed on foreign media and outside election observers on access to the Nov. 7 elections in Burma are “unfortunate” and a sign of continued rigidity of the country's military rulers.
2010.10.13	International	USA	Washington hopes that whatever government emerges from general elections in Myanmar will proceed along a new path, a U.S. State Department spokesman said
2010.09.30	International	USA	Congressman Joseph Crowley called on the Burmese military regime to set Aung San Suu Kyi free and says rumors that she will be released in November are a ploy to gain legitimacy in the upcoming election.
2010.09.24	International	ASEAN + USA	A summit held between US President Barack Obama and leaders from Southeast Asia is being heralded as a potentially defining moment in relations between Washington and Southeast Asian governments, offering an opportunity “to align divergent policies ahead of elections” in Burma.
2010.09.16	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said“We have been in close consultations with all our friends in the region about our intentions which are to keep the door open, work towards a comprehensive dialogue with the regime, and follow on with its successors with the recognition that it is among all the difficult options the best possible way to go forward”.
2010.08.31	International	USA	The US Administration announced that it will not accept Snr-Gen Than Shwe as the post-election civilian ruler of Burma if he resigns his post as head of the country's armed forces but continues to wield power in a leadership role.
2010.08.24	International	USA	A US Senior Administration official told reporters that he did not project any discussions with Burma in the near future
2010.08.18	International	USA	The United States joined countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia in the creation of a U.N.-led commission to investigate alleged war crimes by Myanmar's military junta.
2010.07.30	International	USA	Thirty-two US senators urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to back the creation of a special UN commission to investigate possible crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.
2010.07.23	International	USA	The Obama administration called on New Delhi to tell the Burmese junta leader that it is time for Burma to change during his upcoming state visit to India.
2010.07.22	International	USA	The US Congress on Thursday renewed a ban on imports from Burma for another year, seeking to pressure the military regime over human rights and democracy as well as alleged ties to North Korea.
2010.07.14	International	USA	The US House of Representative renewed sanctions on Burma for another year as the military junta continued to violate the human rights of its own people and has not moved towards the restoration of democracy.
2010.07.12	International	USA	The Obama administration said the Burmese general election as scheduled is “flawed” and that the military government has not taken any step towards establishing democracy in the country.
2010.07.03	International	USA	US Secretary Of State Hilary Clinton criticises Burma at a high level conference on democracy in Poland
2010.06.30	International	USA	A key US Senate panel voted overwhelmingly to renew for one year a ban on imports from Burma over alleged human rights abuses by its military rulers.
2010.06.22	International	USA	"US believes elections planned for this year in Burma will not be free or fair and will lack international legitimacy," the State Department said on the micro-blogging site Twitter
2010.06.22	International	USA	Eight senior members of the NLD met with Robin Lerner, counsel of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee
2010.06.14	International	USA	Burma is among the 13 countries that fail to meet US minimum standards in fighting the crime of human trafficking, according to the US State Department in its 10th annual trafficking in persons report.
2010.06.10	International	USA	Eric Schwartz, who heads the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, arrived in Thailand to look into issue regarding asylum-seekers from Myanmar and Laos. He said that if military-ruled Myanmar's upcoming election is not fair, asylum seekers from the country can not be expected to return there.
2010.06.10	International	USA	Scot Marciel, the State Department official in charge of South-east Asia, said Burma risks destabilising South-east Asia through its pursuit of weapons, although it is not yet clear whether the military regime is developing a nuclear program
2010.06.03	International	USA	US Sen. Jim Webb cancels his trip to Burma saying it would be “unwise and counterproductive” for him to go there while new allegations were surfacing about possible nuclear cooperation between Naypyidaw and North Korea.
2010.05.19	International	USA	Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, said his visit to Burma this month for talks with the military left him disappointed on a full range of bilateral disputes. He also said Washington is troubled that Burma has not moved on any of the issues standing in the way of better American ties with the military-ruled state.
2010.05.14	International	USA	US President Barack Obama extended sanctions against Burma for one more year, arguing that the policies of the military junta continue to pose a threat to America’s national security interests and its foreign policy. Obama said the “actions and policies of the Burmese military junta are hostile to US interests and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy” of the country.
2010.05.12	International + Government	Election Commission + USA	Burma's military leaders rejected international poll monitors for the country's first elections in 20 years but asked for unspecified cooperation from the United States in supporting the vote. Head of the Election Commission, Thein Soe, said "The nation has a lot of experience with elections. We do not need election watchdogs to come here." He also told Campbell "Arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair election"
2010.05.11	International	USA + China	Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell made a quick visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese officials following a trip to Burma, where he expressed concerns over upcoming elections in the military-ruled nation.
2010.05.04	International	USA	Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P J Crowley, suggested that it could be a positive step if Burmese Generals resigned from the military to contest the upcoming election.
2010.04.29	International	USA	A team of Western diplomats led by US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F. Moriarty visited A Burmese Muslim refugee camp in the southeast district of Bangladesh
2010.04.24	Exile + International	USA	Burmese activists and community leaders in the United States have urged US Senator Richard Lugar to continue pushing for targeted sanctions on Burma’s military rulers. The meeting was held in the senator’s electorate of Indiana state for feedback about Obama's policy towards Burma.
2010.04.24	Opposition + International	NLD + USA	The United States' Chargé d'Affaires in Rangoon Larry Dinger, accompanied by the embassy's Political/ Economic Chief Jennifer Harhigh, met Central Executive Committee (CEC) members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Vice President Tin Oo, Win Tin, Khin Maung Swe, Nyunt Wai and Than Htun, to discuss the opposition party's political stance and whether it will participate in this year's election.
2010.04.23	International	USA	US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher urged “patriots” in the Burmese military to join pro-democracy advocates like Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic fighters to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy in Burma.
2010.04.21	International	USA	P J Crowley, the US assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said the administration would continue its new policy of simultaneous engagement and economic sanctions and hoped that dialogue with the junta would yield positive results.
2010.04.20	International	USA	US senator Judd Gregg has introduced a resolution calling on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to assess whether the Obama administration policy of engagement with the Burmese military junta has been effective in furthering US interests. Senators co-sponsoring the resolution were Judd Greg, Mitch McConnell, Bob Bennett, Sam Brownback, Susan M. Collins, Joseph Lieberman and Patrick Leahy.
2010.04.15	International	USA	Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of the State Department, told a regular press briefing that the United States sympathies with Burma's bomb blast victims
2010.04.14	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs Kurt Campbell warned the US could review its dialogue with the military junta in the absence of democratic reforms
2010.04.13	International	Singapore + USA	Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton discussion included issues related to Burma
2010.04.09	International	USA	P J Crowley, the US assistant secretary of state for public affairs said that the Obama administration will continue its new policy of engaging the Burmese leadership despite the fact that the military junta has ignored international advice
2010.04.02	International	USA	Scott Marciel, the deputy assistant secretary of state and ambassador for ASEAN acknowledged that the State Department's new policy on mixing pressure with engagement in Burma has yet to show concrete results in persuading the Burmese junta to govern more responsibly. "Burma's new election laws are a step backwards...They are effectively preventing the main opposition party from participating. This is the opposite of the path towards national reconciliation."
2010.03.30	International	USA	Nine US senators across the political spectrum called for tighter sanctions on Burma's military regime to persuade it not to hold elections that effectively bar key opposition leaders. In the letter to President Barack Obama, the senators agreed with the administration that election laws made a "mockery" of democracy but called for a more robust response.
2010.03.26	International	USA	The US armed forces is ready to re-engage with Burma's ruling junta in a military-to-military dialogue if there is any change in Washington's policy toward the Southeast Asian country, a top US military official Adm Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command told Senate and House Armed Services Committees.
2010.03.22	International	USA	An US embassy Political Councilor in Bangkok said that Burma's recently announced election law must be amended, otherwise the scheduled 2010 polls will be “very difficult to judge as free, fair or credible" at a forum on Burma at Chulalongkorn University
2010.03.12	International	USA	Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the U.S. was "very disappointed and concerned" by the new laws and "setback" for political dialogue and the junta's engagement with Washington. An embassy official said they were in discussions with the Burmese authorities regarding a possible trip
2010.03.10	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley said “We are concerned by the Burmese authorities’ unilateral decision to begin releasing the election laws without first engaging in substantive dialogue with the democratic opposition or ethnic minority leaders,” and “We remain skeptical that the elections planned for this year will be credible and we urge the authorities to begin a genuine political dialogue with all stakeholders as a first step towards credible elections”
2010.03.10	International	USA	An internal congressional report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has told US lawmakers that the results of the 2010 general election in Burma may be a strong indicator of the potential for political change in the country. The report is titled “Burma's 2010 Elections: Implications of the New Constitution and Election Laws” and written by Michael F. Martin
2010.03.10	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell had a one hour meeting with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and also held talks with fellow members of her former National League for Democracy (NLD) at a government guesthouse in Rangoon. He said “what we have seen to date leads us to believe that these elections will lack international legitimacy.”
2010.03.10	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with the Spoke Authoritative Team of the State Peace and Development Council, Foreign Minister Nyan Win; Information Minister Kyaw San; and U Thaung, a former ambassador to the United States who now directs Myanmar’s nuclear energy program as minister of science and technology.He is said to have issued a strong warning concerning Burma's arms purchases from North Korea
2010.03.08	International	USA	The United States Senate has passed a unanimous resolution sponsored by Senator Judd Gregg to urge the Obama administration to review its policy of engagement with the Burmese military junta
2010.03.05	International	USA	US Senator Mitch McConnell called on his fellow lawmakers to join him in support of sanctions against the Burmese regime for not making any “tangible progress” in democratic reforms
2010.03.04	International	USA	A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to the Washington Post said that the Obama administration, concerned that Burma is expanding its military relationship with North Korea, has launched an aggressive campaign to persuade Burma's junta to stop buying North Korean military technology.
2010.03.01	Government + International	SPDC + USA + UK	USDA General Secretary Htay Oo, who is also minister of Agriculture and Irrigation met with Larry Dinger, the chargé d’affaires of the United States Mission in Rangoon. On the same day, he met with British Ambassador Andrew Heyn. Both Western diplomats were expected to raise domestic political issues, including tensions with various ethnic groups, said observers.
2010.02.26	International	USA	Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs called for the administration to increase the pressure on Burma, including tightening sanctions on the regime. Berman said "Recent events have raised the profile of humanitarian issues there...Support is growing for more action in addition to ongoing efforts."
2010.02.11	International	USA	Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley told reporters the US will discuss the issue of sentencing Nyi Nyi Aung, a US citizen, by a Burmese court with the military junta in the dialogue process between the two countries.
2010.02.10	International	USA	The US government have urged the Burmese military junta to immediately release a US human rights activist, Nyi Nyi Aung, saying his 3-year imprisonment could hinder the ongoing dialogue between the two countries.
2010.02.02	International	USA	US President Barack Obama earmarked $36.5 million in his 2011 budget to support democracy and humanitarian programs for Burma and along the Thai-Burma border
2010.01.26	International	USA	Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley told reporters at a daily news briefing: “It’s important for the Government of Burma to reach out not only to those who wish to be politically active, but also to the various ethnic communities within Burma.”
2010.01.21	International	USA	Senator Jim Webb in his remarks at the Senate’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing on Washington’s engagement in Asia, said, “American sanctions and other policy restrictions have not only increased Chinese political and economic influence in Southeast Asia, they ironically serve as a double reward for China because all the while American interaction in East Asia has been declining” referring to Burma as a specific example.
2010.01.19	International	USA	US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told the press that Washington has seen a "mixed bag" of results from the Military junta over democratic reforms but foresees more discussions in the near future.
2009.11.15	International	USA	US President Obama met PM Thein Sein during a US - Southeast Asian nations summit on the sidelines of APEC in Singapore
2009.11.03-04	International	USA	United States Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell leads an exploratory mission, meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, Sr. Gen. Than Shwe; as well as PM General Thein Sein , Foreign Affairs Minister Nyan Win, Minister for Information Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan, Minister of Science and Technology U Thaung and Chief Justice U Aung Toe who is also Chairman of both the Commission for Drafting State Constitution and for Holding Nationwide Referendum. It was also allowed to hold separate meetings with ethnic representatives (Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Arakan League for Democracy and the Mon National Democracy Party), and central committee members of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
2009.10.24	Government + International	SPDC + USDA + USA	Charge d’Affairs of the US embassy in Rangoon Larry M. Dinger met Burmese junta’s Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj Gen Htay Oo
2009.10.21	Exile + International	NCGUB + USA	A delegation of pro-democracy leaders met US Sen. Jim Webb to present their views on the current situation in Burma and their perspective on the way forward, in particular with regard to sanctions and restoration of democracy in Burma. The delegation was led by Maung Maung, the general secretary of the exiled National Council of the Union of Burma, and Bo Hla Tint, the foreign minister of the exiled National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. They were accompanied by legal advisers from the Public International Law and Policy Group.
2009.10.20	Opposition	NLD +USA	NLD hosted United States’ Chargé d’affaires Larry M. Dinger and two American diplomats
2009.09.30	International	USA	Democratic Senator Jim Webb, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, holds a panel/congressional hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of the US approach.
2009.09.30	Government + International	SPDC + USA	US assistant secretary of state Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Marciel held their first meeting with Myanmar’s science minister U Thaung who led a delegation to New York
2009.09.23	International	USA	U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Washington would shift its policy towards Myanmar by direct engagement with it while keeping sanctions in place
2009.09.19	International	USA	U.S. Senator Jim Webb had talks with the country's Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Washington DC
2009.08.31	Ethnic + International	USA	The Obama administration urged an end to the violence in Burma's Kokang region, calling for the Burmese government to launch a "genuine dialogue" with ethnic minority groups.
2009.08.16	International	USA	Yettaw was sent to Bangkok along with the visiting US Senator Jim Webb. The Burmese authorities said his release was purely on humanitarian grounds considering his deteriorating health
2009.08.14-16	International	USA	Democratic Senator of the United States Jim Webb met Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Than Shwe and Aung San Suu Kyi on a trip to Burma aimed at exploring opportunities to advance U.S. interests in Burma and the region.
2009.08.11	International	USA	US President Barack Obama, and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi
2009.07.28	International	USA	U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law a congressional resolution extending restrictions on imports from Myanmar contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.
2009.07.22	International	USA	US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has expressed grave concern over possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to Burma at a press conference at the 42nd Asean Foreign Ministers. She also said Asean should consider expelling Burma from the grouping if the ruling regime sentences the detained Nobel Peace Laureate, but later said “If she [Suu Kyi] were released, that would open up opportunities, at least for my country, to expand our relationship with Burma, including investments in Burma. But it is up to the Burmese leadership”
2009.07.07	International	USA	Ian Kelly, the State Department spokesperson on Tuesday told reporters, “I think our concerns with the state of democracy are very well known. We have of course called for the release of the 2,100 political prisoners in Burma...We’ve called very specifically for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi”.
2009.06.28	International	USA	Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush says the international community must unite to pressure Myanmar to put an end to human rights abuses in an opinions piece for The Washington Post. She also said the United Nations Security Council should refer leaders of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to the International Criminal Court for war crimes as it did Sudan for the alleged genocide in Darfur.
2009.05.26	International	USA	President Obama called for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is on trial for subversion.
2009.05.20	International	USA	US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Burmese regime’s 2010 national election could be considered illegitimate and not be recognized, if it continues on its current path.
2009.05.18	International	USA	The US State Department said the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi does not help the US in considering the easing of sanctions. Ian Kelly, a department spokesperson, during a press briefing said the US is undertaking a thorough policy review on Burma, though president Obama sent notification to Congress for the extension sanctions against the country.
2009.05.16	International	USA	In a statement issued by Sen John Kerry and his Republican counterpart Sen Richard Lugar, both leaders of the powerful foreign affairs committee, they called for “reform-minded” leaders in the military junta to step forward.
2009.05.15	International	USA	United States’ President Barrack Obama formally extended sanctions against Burma for another year, saying the actions and policies of Burma’s ruling junta has not changed and continues to be hostile towards the US and it’s foreign policy.
2009.05.14	International	USA	US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she will raise the imprisonment of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with the UN, Burma’s partners within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)—and even China. Describing the removal of Suu Kyi from her home to Rangoon’s infamous Insein Prison as unlawful and “a pretext to place further unjustified restrictions on her,”
2009.04.16	International	USA	Eleven influential US women senators have written a joint letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging him to press the Burmese regime to abandon plans for a general election in 2010, saying they were based on a “unilaterally drafted constitution that violates international law.”
2009.04.07	International	USA	Seventeen members of the US Congress have written to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asking for the appointment of a special envoy for military-ruled Burma
2009.04.01	International	USA	Deputy U.S. Secretary of State James B. Steinberg gave notice during a conference in Washington D.C. that the United States wants a "collaborative and constructive" approach on Burma, saying nations with sway over Burma's military government should avoid "recreating a mini version of the Great Game" The US was open to setting up new “flexible” frameworks similar to the six party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program
2009.03.25	Opposition + International	CRPP + USA	Stephen Blake, the director of the US State Department’s Office of Mainland Southeast Asia said that Sanctions may be withdrawn while other targeted sanctions may remain in place.
2009.03.24	International	USA	Robert Wood, a US State Department spokesman, said that the US was disappointed that the Burmese regime continues to ignore the calls of the international community, including the UN Security Council, to release political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.
2009.03.24	International	USA	The United States said it is disappointed by the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and the Burmese junta’s failure to heed international calls for her release.
2009.03.23	International	USA	Acting Assistant Secretary for International Organizations, James Warlick repeated earlier comments that the Obama administration is in the process of devising a new policy to achieve a goal of democratic reconciliation in Burma.
2009.03.22-25	International	USA	US official State Department Stephen Blake, director of Mainland Southeast Asian Affairs, visited Burma where he met with Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2009.03.13	International	USA + Indonesia	US President Barack Obama discussed the issue of restoration of democracy and protection of human rights in Burma when he made a telephone call to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
2009.03.05	International	USA	Burma’s military rulers rejected two recent US reports on Human Rights records and counter-narcotic efforts, claiming the reports were baseless and politically motivated.
2009.02.28	International	USA	The United States continued to highlight Burma in informal conversations with delegates at the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said the US Special Envoy to Asean, Scot Marciel
2009.02.23	International	USA	The US State Department welcomed the Burmese regime’s release of some political prisoners but added: “A lot more needs to be done.” "The release of any political prisoners is something we would welcome, but a lot more needs to be done," said State Department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood. "We call on the Burmese to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We'll have to see if indeed this leads to more releases."
2009.02.23	International	USA	Robert Wood, US State department’s acting spokesperson said the United States while welcoming Burma’s move to free political prisoners as part of the regime’s amnesty to over 6,000 prisoners urged the junta to release the rest of the political prisoners including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He also said that the review is still on.
2009.02.20	International	USA	Gordon Duguid, the US State Department acting deputy spokesperson said the United States said its Burma policy is under review, partly because its earlier policy of imposing economic sanctions has failed to yield results. However, its goal remains the same––the establishment of true democracy in Burma.
2009.01.27	Government	SPDC + USA	Former Burmese ambassador to the United States, U Ling Myaing visited the US.
2009.01.23	Government + International	SPDC and USA	Burmese military junta supremo Snr. Gen Than Shwe congratulated Barack Hussein Obama on his inauguration as the 44th US President. A Burmese official expressed that Burma hopes Obama will change Washington's tough policy toward its military regime and end the "misunderstandings" of the past.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 21:25