Mizzima News

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Two personalities of standing in the Burmese opposition have written an open letter to US secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asking her to continue sanctions against Burma’s ruling junta as long as they do not free political prisoners and engage in a “genuine” dialogue with the opposition.

The open letter, sent on Tuesday, was signed by Ashin Aww Bar Sa from the All Burma Monk Alliance and Tun Myint Aung from the 88 Generation Group. But for fear of reprisal, the two have concealed their current location.

The letter quoted by the AFP said, the junta “complains that the sanctions imposed by the US and western countries impoverishes people, and leads to under development of our country and destroys our economy.”

“But let’s be clear: it is the junta, with its disastrous economic policy, terror, corruption, reign of illegality and poor management, that has made one of the richest countries in Asia one of the less developed in the world.”

The open letter came after Clinton signaled a possible shift in US policy towards Burma saying that neither sanctions nor engagement is effective in dealing with the reclusive junta, officially known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

This has triggered a new debate about the effectiveness of Washington's long-held sanctions against the Burmese regime. But rumors of lifting sanctions was refuted recently by the US State Department saying “the United States is not considering lifting sanctions against Burma as part of a review of policy towards the military government.”

The European Union (EU) last week renewed its sanctions imposed on Burma’s military rulers for another year during its foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg.

The call by the two Burmese activists is in keeping with Burma’s main opposition party – the National League for Democracy’s - pre-condition to contest the forthcoming 2010 elections, agreed during a special meeting of the members of the NLD in Rangoon on April 29.

The resolutions of the meeting shored up the party's firm stand on calls for the unconditional release of all political prisoners including U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; the convening of Parliament, the review of the draft constitution (2008); and a political dialogue to resolve the country's political impasse.