UPDATE: Webb’s visit to Myanmar draws criticism
2008, BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., is is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee.
Published: August 14, 2009
Updated: August 14, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is supporting Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s trip to military-run Myanmar, a visit criticized by dissident groups and conservatives who argue that it validates a violent junta accused of massive abuses against its people.
Webb was in Myanmar on Friday, the first member of Congress to visit in more than a decade, and was scheduled to have a rare meeting with junta leader Than Shwe. Webb’s office said it had not communicated with the senator since he arrived in Myanmar and did not know Friday if the meeting had happened.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters that Webb carried no specific message from the Obama administration. The State Department, however, gave Webb a detailed briefing of the region before he left and has said U.S. diplomats would support him while in Myanmar.
Asked whether the administration thought it was a good time for Webb to visit, Crowley said, “We certainly approve of his being there.“
Webb’s visit comes amid world anger at the conviction Tuesday of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with an American citizen, and the beginning of another 18-month house arrest stint for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
In Washington, Webb’s trip has sparked disapproval among some.
In a letter to Webb, three Myanmar dissident groups expressed amazement that the senator would visit Myanmar, also called Burma, so close to the verdict against Suu Kyi.
“We are concerned that the military regime will manipulate and exploit your visit and propagandize that you endorse their treatment on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and over 2,100 political prisoners, their human rights abuses on the people of Burma, and their systematic, widespread and ongoing attack against the ethnic minorities,“ the letter said. Daw is a term of respect for older women in Myanmar.
Webb, a Vietnam War veteran with a long-standing interest in Asia, is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Asia subcommittee. At a June hearing, he suggested that “affirmative engagement” would bring the most change to Myanmar.
His comments have generated worry among those who believe a hard line is the best way to get Myanmar’s generals to change.
Walter Lohman, director of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank’s Asian studies center, said Webb’s meeting with Myanmar’s leaders “will certainly serve to validate the junta at a time when international revulsion has reached one of its periodic, crisis driven peaks.“
The Obama administration is still reviewing its Myanmar policy but has said Suu Kyi’s conviction will have a negative effect. The United States has traditionally relied heavily on tough sanctions meant to force the generals to respect human rights and release imprisoned political activists. Those sanctions are widely supported among both senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on a trip through Asia in February, addressed the administration’s dilemma with Myanmar. Neither tough U.S. sanctions nor engagement by neighbors, she said, has persuaded the junta to embrace democracy or release Suu Kyi.
It has been about two decades since Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory at the ballot box but was prevented from taking office. She has been detained without trial for more than 14 of the past 20 years.
Suu Kyi is charged with violating terms of her house arrest because an uninvited American man swam secretly to her closely guarded lakeside home and stayed two days. Her Myanmar supporters say the junta is using the bizarre case of the American swimmer as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi detained through next year’s scheduled elections.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
BMW, Most of what you write is incomprehensible, and it’s very difficult to reply when I can’t understand your point or what you are saying. However, I do disagree with you when you say “Suu Kyi is not our problem, citiczens are.” Suu Kyi devoted her life to the cause of freedom and democracy. She was unanimously voted to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States, awarded to people who “perform an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.” Even the United States needs friends in other countries who stand up for and support our values, and I think anyone who knows anything about Suu Kyi would have to agree that she deserves our support. America can not claim to value freedom and democracy if we are not willing to sacrifice for it. Sorry, but Mr. Yettaw broke the law. I value freedom and democracy more than the life of a lawbreaker, US citizen or not, and Sen. Webb’s trip to Myanmar was a blow against freedom and democracy for the sake of gaining some publicity by obtaining the release of lawbreaker.
I thought the courts were corrupt, so now I’m to believe what he said in them. I thought it was such a totalitarian regime that even the thought of talking to them should make every American run in horror. Second Suu Kyi is not our problem, citizens I’m afraid are. And you attack Bush, yet he was the one who loved to cold shoulder countries who are “undemocratic” at least that is what I remember. Second look you get this forum to attack the regime, if he didn’t go where would you be posting.
Sen. Webb admitted that Mr. Yettaw’s actions hurt Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar. “I believe that it was hurtful to the person he was trying to help” is what Webb said.. So, if Mr. Yettaw’s actions were hurtful to Suu Kyi and the pro-democracy movement, wasn’t it also hurtful for Sen. Webb to go kowtowing to the Myanmar government to obtain his release, while doing nothing for Suu Kyi or the people of Myanmar?? According to Sen. Webb, we should “be grateful” to the government of Myanmar for the release of Mr. Yettaw. Oh really??? We should “be grateful” to an illegitimate, abusive, dictatorship? The only thing Sen. Webb has done is provide credibility and legitimacy to an abusive illegitimate military regime. That is how the people of Myanmar rightfully feel. “I don’t think Sen. Webb can be proud for the release of Mr. John Yettaw, while our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the real victim of this conspiracy and injustices, and two women colleagues are still under detention… This will surely make a negative impression among the people of Burma. They will think that Americans are easy to satisfy with the dictators when they get their citizens back.“ said Aung Din, executive director of the Washington-based U.S. Campaign for Burma. I guess he is right to feel that way.
Also people are attacking him for getting an American (i.e US citizen)out of jail, for what trying to get an interview. Really I thought that are politicians are supposed to have are backs when we travel oversees. I know as someone who regularly travels oversees I much prefer this then for him to just go “oh American citizen held in corrupt gov’t jail, not my problem don’t you know I’m trying to get reelected.“
Are you really this naive? First of all, Mr. Yettaw was not “trying to get an interview”. Yettaw testified in court that God sent him to Myanmar to protect the Suu Kyi because he dreamed that a terrorist group would assassinate her. He was not there for an interview. He was not invited by Suu Kyi and did not have her permission or the permission of the Myanmar governemt. If a person snuck into the White House and claimed that God sent him to protect the President, he would either be sent to jail or a mental institution. But you think it’s ok for him to break the laws in another country without facing any repercussions?? If you regularly travel overseas, I hope you have more respect for foreign laws than Mr. Yettaw, however if you do not, then you deserve to be arrested and spend time in jail. It seems that you have the typical arrogant American attitude that Americans should not have to follow the laws of other countries. Eight years of President Bush, who also had this attitude, have already done enough damage to America’s reputation overseas. I for one do not knowingly break the law when traveling overseas, and if you do, then I hope you will be left in jail.
Sen. Webb’s trip to Myanmar has done more to bring to light the plight of the Myanmar people, then if he had just avoided it all together. Also people are attacking him for getting an American (i.e US citizen)out of jail, for what trying to get an interview. Really I thought that are politicians are supposed to have are backs when we travel oversees. I know as someone who regularly travels oversees I much prefer this then for him to just go “oh American citizen held in corrupt gov’t jail, not my problem don’t you know I’m trying to get reelected.“
“He should have insisted that Suu Kyi be released before accepting the release of Mr. Yettaw.“
Chuckle.
First of all, I’m from Boston, MA.. Unfortunately, I can’t vote against your Sen. Webb, but I at least felt obliged to try to convince some people not to vote for him.. What is your Senator thinking? His trip to Myanmar certainly wasn’t in the interest of his constituents, and it also did not serve any interest of the U.S., and it certainly did not further the goal of spreading democracy and freedom.. Sen. Webb’s trip to Myanmar only “served” the illegitimate government of Myanmar, giving legitimacy to an illegitimate government. He freed a man from prison who deserved to be in prison. He hurt the cause of Suu Kyi, who has devoted her life to the freedom and democracy of her people. Sen. Webb should try to learn from Suu Kyi rather than hurting her position. He should have insisted that Suu Kyi be released before accepting the release of Mr. Yettaw. I can not vote against Sen. Webb, so would someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote against him in the next election for me?
greta,
Check out the excellent article in today’s TD.
Jim Webb is a bully and a boor.
According to a report in the NYT this morning he and the dissident Suu Kyi could not agree on the sanctions.
Some diplomat, Mr. Webb.
Of curse he did tick off all the women in the navy with his clever writing.
“Women Can’t Fight.“
Tell that to a woman who jhas been in and out of prison for 14 of the last 20 yers.
Before all the local tea baggers get too huffed up about challenging Sen Webb, you need to know that he doesn’t tolerate fools lightly. If you try to convince him the earth is flat, you will get serious pushback. Marines are like that.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement