Asia-Pacific News

Clinton hails 'incremental steps' after Burma meeting

Dec 1, 2011, 12:56 GMT

Myanmar President Thein Sein (L) walks with Hillary Clinton (R), US Secretary of State at the President\'s office in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, 01 December 2011. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

Yangon - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday met Myanmar President Thein Sein in Naypyitaw, the capital, before flying on to Yangon to dine with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

'This is an historic trip,' Thein Sein said, welcoming Clinton to the presidential office in the capital Naypyitaw, 350 kilometres north of Yangon, the former capital until 2005.

Clinton said she was 'satisfied' with her meeting, but was quick to announce that the US was in no rush to drop its economic sanction on the country, a pariah state since the army cracked down on pro-democracy protests in 1988, leaving about 3,000 dead.

The US Secretary of State pointed out that more need to be done in the country, which has been under military rule since 1962.

'The United States is prepared to walk the path of reform with you if you keep moving in the right direction,' said Clinton.

She highlighted the need to release all political prisoners. There are an estimated 500 to 1,600 prisoners of conscience still in Myanmar jails, although Thein Sein denies there are any remaining.

Since May, the regime has released more than 300 political prisoners. It has also pushed through a liberal labour law and paved the way for the opposition party to contest an upcoming general election.

'These are incremental steps and we are prepared to go further if reforms maintain momentum. In that spirit, we are discussing what it will take to upgrade diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors,' Clinton said.

Clinton denied that her visit, the first by a US secretary of state in 56 years, was part of the US's effort to counterbalance China's growing diplomatic clout in the region.

Myanmar held its first election in two decades on November 7, which the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party won in far from 'free and fair' conditions.

Despite his military background, ex-general Thein Sein, who was inaugurated as president in March, kick-started a new spirit of compromise in Myanmar last August when he invited opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the capital for private talks.

At that meeting a trusting relationship has evolved between the two, according to sources.

But many still suspect that Thein Sein is not sincere about ushering in a new, democratic Myanmar.

After her meetings with Thein Sein and members of parliament in Naypyitaw, Clinton and her entourage flew to Yangon, where they visited the famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda at sunset.

Surrounded by Myanmar guards and shoeless US security personnel in suits, the Secretary of State walked barefoot through the centuries-old temple, drawing stares and smiles from people who had come to the shrine to meditate and pray.

'We came her to see the temple and we got to see Clinton instead,' said one Swiss tourist. 'I wish we could see her with Aung San Suu Kyi,' she added. 'Aung San Suu Kyi is wonderful, but of course Clinton is wonderful in her own way too.'

Clinton was scheduled to have a private dinner with Suu Kyi at her Yangon residence, and hold official talks with the Nobel laureate on Friday.

Suu Kyi has spent 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest in her home.

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