Interview

Deeply Disappointed

By THE IRRAWADDY Tuesday, March 23, 2010

COMMENTS (18)

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The Irrawaddy editor Aung Zaw recently interviewed US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell who in November led the US's first high-level delegation to Burma in 14 years when he met Aung San Suu Kyi and military junta premier Thein Sein.

Campbell spoke about the regime's recent election law, US sanctions, Asean and the political unrest in Thailand.

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell

QUESTION: The regime has recently announced its much awaited election law and clearly there was no surprise—many reputable opposition figures including Aung San Suu Kyi and 2,000 other political prisoners will not be allowed to participate. How will the US respond?

ANSWER: We are deeply disappointed with the political party law, which excludes all of Burma’s more than 2,000 political prisoners from political participation. We are also troubled that the law appears to bar National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi from running. It may also prohibit her membership in her own party. This is a step in the wrong direction. These laws compound the already oppressive political atmosphere in Burma.

Q: If the election is held without the participation of the main opposition party, Suu Kyi's NLD, could it be considered credible in any way?

A: Whether or not Aung San Suu Kyi chooses to run is a decision for her and her party to make, and we respect the decisions opposition and candidates will make with regard to participation in the election. Our position is that all candidates, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders should be afforded the opportunity to make that decision for themselves. The regime should not impose rules that restrict the candidate pool to exclude those with whom it disagrees. The Political Party Registration Law, as promulgated, makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures that the upcoming elections will be devoid of credibility.

Q: At a press briefing in Bangkok, you said that engagement with the regime has failed. If that is the case, will the US increase sanctions against the regime?

A: Sanctions are an important tool in the Burma policy toolkit. We have said publicly––and we have made clear to the government of Burma––that we reserve the option to further tighten sanctions should the situation warrant that.

We will also continue to engage with the regime. Dialogue is not a reward; we knew from the outset that this would be a long and difficult process, in particular given the electoral environment this year. While nothing is scheduled at this time, we remain open to further meetings and remain in discussion with the Burmese about another possible visit.

Q: You didn't visit Burma during your recent trip to Asia. Why?

A: We are still in discussion with the Burmese authorities regarding a possible trip.

Q: As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), has Burma in any way been an obstacle to full US engagement with Asean member states and the organization itself?

A: The problem of Burma is a challenge for the US and for Asean as an organization. However, we are committed to a deeper relationship with Asean and we are not going to let the Burma problem impede that relationship. We believe Asean as an organization has an important role to play in pressing Burma, as a member state, to implement genuine reform.

Q: Due to protests led by Redshirt demonstrators in Bangkok, you canceled your speech at Chulalongkorn University. How does the US view Thailand's ongoing political instability?

A: We are closely watching the current situation. The United States believes that differences should be addressed through Thailand’s democratic institutions and not through violence.

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COMMENTS (18)

plan B Wrote:

31/03/2010

Garrette,

Concerning my being on SPDC doe and white washing SPDC atrocities: Proof please call me a lier or call yourself one.

How many time can a white man be call a lier before it will stick?

I guess even respectable academic like Steinberg, diplomat like Tonkin has to endure lowly foul label from you and your ilk.

As I see it from the field, US policy, mirrored by all other western democratic countries, is the second if not equally the cause of citizenry of Myanmar suffering.

Western democracy kill with sanctions and neglect while SPDC kill with guns and neglects.

Fine If you find the methods by SPDC abhorrent, so do I.

As long as you deny, white wash or omit the west part.

Other readers here will know what you are.

plan B Wrote:

31/03/2010

HR 2330,

To sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma’s democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other purposes.

If you are SPDC tell us what you did is not motivated initially for survival.

If you wish to discuss the method by which SPDC accomplished the hold on to power then

Ko Moe Aung

Evidently this high handed method of US careless HR that purely consider only the benefit of NLD and NLD alone, besides punishing SPDC. Nothing for the citizenry benefit.

Is there any provision that consider the plight of the citizenry?

You and Garrette are typical of absolving a western government of the impacts their policies have.

At least your cohort are white and can be excused for being racist because of their ignorance.

What's your excuse?

Moe Aung Wrote:

30/03/2010

plan B

Foaming in the mouth, are you? I guess you've earned every penny since you do it with such passion. Just try to be a little bit coherent and intelligible.

'Colluding only with NLD instead of other ethnic entities', the US doesn't care about the Karen converted long ago by the American Baptist missionaries for instance, does it? You tell 'em cos they must've forgotten. Or are you recycling the neglect you accuse the NLD of?

'Non Asian: Steinberg, Tonkin and Salene all are' not white in your book? Because 'their reasoning is absolutely on target', they can't possibly suffer from the malady "white man know best", so they must be just non-Asian unlike those others that merit your targeted xenophobic rants.

Of course "the wrong done against everyday Burmese citizenry" by the US is unforgivable because the generals - poor souls - have been driven to atrocious behavior by the US in the first place. Wonderful piece of circular argument that only you can manage. Well done.

plan B Wrote:

28/03/2010

Q: You didn't visit Burma during your recent trip to Asia. Why?

A: We are still in discussion with the Burmese authorities regarding a possible trip.

http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18022
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=18009
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17953

Any more reasons needed.
Presumptuous at best, simply rude at worst to imply the unwelcome nature created by US policy against Myanmar at every turn is the sole fault of SPDC.

If this is not racism, what is? Mr Campbell: ASEAN and China are watching.

Beside having a good laugh at US idiocy they will all sigh a relief of assured SOS.

Garrett Wrote:

28/03/2010

By advocating on behalf of the SPDC, Plan B4 UMPF seems to believe he is somehow protecting the hundreds or thousands who would be killed or injured by the shock troops which the SPDC would deploy to put down such mass protests, perhaps his interpretation of nonviolence.

The urban citizens of Burma need to fully understand the twenty years of atrocities & acts of ethnic revenge the SPDC has ordered their fathers, sons, & brothers to carry out against innocent Burmese citizens behind the Bamboo Curtain.

Perhaps they would better understand their own Kharma, and their own futures under the top heavy SPDC & Tatmadaw officers all seeking their share of the spoils of national oppression, corruption, forced labor & extortion.

If the citizens continue ignoring the propensity of the SPDC, its corrupt government, & military to find ways to extract wealth from Burma's citizens and resources, they give the regime their tacit approval.

They must overcome the fear & the SPDC's fear-mongers.

Garrett Wrote:

28/03/2010

Plan B4 UMPF,

Your rambling essays attempt to sledge-hammer the square truth block into the round truth hole.

You constantly attempt to bend, twist, & obscure the truth, while accusing others of either not knowing the truth, or not understanding Burmese politics.

It is not all that complicated. The people voted for democracy, & they received the SPDC & oppresssion.

When DASSK was imprisoned, the citizens who elected her failed to take the necessary nonviolent steps to protest & oust the SPDC, end of story.

There has never been any question of whether the SPDC could ever allow true democracy in Burma. Nor has there ever been any question as to whether they could ever allow the ethnic minorities to live their lives in peace.

For the record, I advocate nonviolent mass protests by all Burmese citizens who want freedom and democracy until such time as the SPDC falls.

While the UN may or may not finally act to protect them, it is their responsibility to unite for freedom.

plan B Wrote:

27/03/2010

Engagement/Dialogue by US according to Campbell:

1)Colluding only with NLD instead of other ethnic entities even though the HR 2330 has assured the relentless persecution by a Paranoid SPDC from Derayin to the massacre of the Safron revolution.

2)Continue to assume the morally superior stance of "right to -" while taking advantage of host permission to openly flaunt support for NLD.

3)Maintaining every and any form of existing sanctions and still claim to more as "RIGHT".
4)Never acknowledging even at diplomatic level the harm done to Myanmar due to past policy under the guise of Democracy.
Mr Campbell should answer why US embassy is still being allowed to operate in Myanmar despite the fact that HR 2330 clearly intend to strangle Myanmar economically, an ACT OF WAR by any western democratic standard.
May be then he might sound less hypocritical.

plan B Wrote:

27/03/2010

My ethnicity and is a nonplus.

Non Asian: Steinberg, Tonkin and Salene all are accused of being on SPDC dole, even though their reasoning is absolutely on target.

Garette

You and others like O'brien, Johnston are all white. All of you:

1)Advocate physical or economic violence. 2)Have NO PERSONAL STAKE whatsoever.
3)Blame the citizenry while absolutely ignoring the same tragic results repeated many times since '60's.
4)Nothing to remedy "white man know best" policy proven to hurt the citizenry more.

At least come up with ideas other than calling anyone names who disapprove your hate inspired support for violent over throwing of SPDC.

ftp.resource.org/gpo.gov/bills/108/h2330rh.txt.pdf

A blatant disregard for the 50 mil citizenry that US congress effected against Myanmar's future.

HATE SPDC, but DO NOT forget the weaken dejected hostages.

Garrett Wrote:

26/03/2010

Plan B4 UMPF,
Your racist "white man knows best" comments would carry more weight if you could somehow PROVE that you are NOT a white man.

Please PROVE what color YOUR skin is, & what country YOU live in because in my book you are simply a mercenary pundit, often posing as a Burmese, & always speaking doubletalk geared towards diverting the readers' attention from the truth, to your mis-truths which absolve the SPDC regime of their wrongdoings.

YOU should be ashamed because you are defending murderers, rapists, & thieves of the worst kind, and as they say, "birds of a feather-flock together".

Your allegations blaming the world for the SPDC's greed & vengeance make as much sense as the equally inane allegations of your alter-ego MP4 UMPF regarding a pretender to the non-existant throne of Burma.

And the UN is NOT made up solely of white people, NOR does it speak on behalf of all white, black, brown, or any other color skinned people, regardless of what country they live in.

plan B Wrote:

26/03/2010

"The 'every day Burmese citizenry' are suffering due to THEIR OWN inaction in taking the necessary steps to oust the SPDC!"
There is the ultimate proof of Campbell's sentiment representing the west.
1) Absolutely neglecting the effect of western policy obviated by HR 2330. Then blaming the weakened victims for not standing up against a tyrant who has been proven again and again to be relentless in holding on to power.
2) Empty theatricals at the UN and interview here that projects such racist "we deserve the right" thus doubly punishing so called HR 2330 is supposed to help THE CITIZENRY.
3) All white posters here clearly maintain this attitude that what they have done is irreproachable.
Garrett,
Your assumption that there is noone that shows the flip side of the past 20 years of US-led idiocy without any $$ gain is another proof that you, like Eric Johnston, do not understand how a Burmese thinks.
You should be ashamed to even pretend that "a White man knows all".

Dave Wrote:

25/03/2010

What a waste of three minutes to read this. She won 20 years ago, it's that simple! If only Burma had oil.

Garrett Wrote:

25/03/2010

Plan B, resident whitewasher of the SPDC's iniquities against the Burmese people, the fact that you see it as your job to assign the blame for the last twenty years of systematic rape of Burma's people, economy, & natural resources by the SPDC to the United States indicates that you MUST be getting paid to write such nonsense, NO ONE could be that ignorant for free!

The truth is the SPDC nullified the election results in 1990, NOT the US.

The truth is that the SPDC is too greedy to ever allow the Burmese people to prosper, and too vengeful to stop enslaving and extorting millions of ethnic minority citizens whose land, natural resources, and very lives the SPDC consider themselves the owners of, as if they were cattle to be worked, sold, or slaughtered.

As for "SPDC haters", hatred is the only thing the SPDC have earned, everything else they have stolen.

The "every day Burmese citizenry" are suffering due to THEIR OWN inaction in taking the necessary steps to oust the SPDC!

plan B Wrote:

25/03/2010

HR 2330
ftp.resource.org/gpo.gov/bills/108/h2330rh.txt.pdf
By this historically unprecedented act of a white, western country, against an Asian country who has NEVER threaten US let alone any other country then.
Under the guise of Moral Superiority US has:
1) Enshrined NLD as the end all government of Myanmar.
2) Legitimize ANY and EVERY acts that can be construe as anti SPDC.
That was 2003 Ko Aung Zaw.
IN the ensuing years SPDC with paranoia driven hold on to power embark on;
1)Creating 400k Tamadaw,
2)Unspeakable atrocities against armed oppositions, and relentless persecution against NLD the anointed one by this HR.
2330
3) Subjugating the Citizenry to slavery of surviving everyday & everything that the west take for granted.
Campell uttering the "right to.." against Myanmar just prove:
US policy is RACIST beyond any known comparison other than the"NO DOGS AND BURMESE ALLOWED" HRM colonists not so long ago.
Justice for Myanmar's citizenry beyond SPDC is over due Ko AUng Zaw.

plan B Wrote:

24/03/2010

How come Irrawaddy never asks about the consequences of past failed US policy that Campbell never admit to but still shamelessly stated here:

"and we have made clear to the government of Burma––that we reserve the option to further tighten sanctions should the situation warrant that."

Ko Aung Zaw should ask this westerner who obviously does not care for the citizenry who has taken the brunt of this useless bordering on racist acts.

Do ask what has US install for remedying the WRONG DONE AGAINST THE EVREY DAY BURMESE CITIZENRY then may be Ko Aung Zaw will be called a patriot instead of just plain old SPDC hater or worst WHITE WASHER of US iniquities against Burmese people .

Tom Tun Wrote:

24/03/2010

Mr. Kurt Cambell,
Famous US president Thomas Jefferson believe that "rewarding the bad behaviour is in a way encouraging the bad behaviour". I believe that is why US foreign policy define that US never negotiate with terrorist groups and pariah states. So, don't you think offering dialogue with long running Burmese regime is encouraging their bad habits? Burmese military government is a fail government if you forget your government standard. The most important question is what will you do in the future if the Burmese regime push through with their unjust plan? Will you consider the new government as credible government? For me personally, I don't even consider 2008 constitution and this coming election as real political change. These are all a new era of military rule. I think you know "oligarchy".

Weldone Wrote:

23/03/2010

great interview! To read the interview in text does not feel REAL, perhaps time for Irrawaddy to have WEB - TV.

Kyaw Wrote:

23/03/2010

The regime worth only the whips and to unseat them not dialogues as they have no capacity to understand them.

Zam Mang Wrote:

23/03/2010

The problem is the real criminals are punishing the innocent ones. Than Shwe deserves to be put to death. However he is punishing Suu Kyi and other politicians like criminals. We all witness the reality anyway.