China’s unchallenged economic influence in Burma is growing, and Asia’s largest power clearly enjoys a regional strategic advantage in its unchallenged relationship.
Webb noted in an earlier statement: “As the United States continues its attempt to isolate Burma due to the human rights policies of its military regime, China’s influence has grown exponentially.”
However, Lintner said, “There’s no way that Burma will give up China because of America.”
Burma’s main concern, he said, is to maintain its good relationship with China and India, its two powerful neighbors, followed by Asean and a good relationship with the rest of the world including the U.S and EU.
A veteran Burmese journalist told The Irrawaddy that the regime’s relationship with China is deeply rooted, but even so Than Shwe and other top leaders are unhappy that China lends its political support to ethnic armed groups along the Sino-Burma border, in fear that clashes between the junta’s troops and ethnic armies could unleash a wave of refugees seeking safety in China, much like what has happened on the Thai-Burmese border.
Only this month, about 10,000 people, including Kokang and Chinese migrants, sought shelter in China after tensions increased between government troops and the Myanmar [Burma] National Democratic Alliance Army, a Kokang ceasefire group.
“Than Shwe is a clever chess player, and he may want to send a signal to China that he could have better relations with America,” said the Rangoon-based journalist.
However, considering the regime’s heavy reliance on China in terms of military hardware, trade and investment, plus a planned gas pipeline into Yunnan Province, he said, “The 20-year-old girl [Burma] is now pregnant, and she is not going to leave her husband [China] anytime soon.”
"We need organizations like the IRA or Hamas. Non-violence doesn't work and the whole world doesn't give damn about it. It's time for some action and we need to fight for our freedom."
One of my cousins was an innocent bystander who got lobotomized by shrapnel from a bomb blast a few year back. He now has an IQ <40.
What is your IQ to suggest such irresponsible advocacy?
Kira Maa Wrote:
19/08/2009
Webb is from a military family and probably felt honor-bound to extract a fellow Vietnam War vet from a SE Asian hell hole. But I doubt he achieved anything of real political significance, apart from raising the junta's hopes.
Than Shwe released Yettaw because it cost him nothing to do so. Until he makes real, substantive concessions, there will be no progress and no shift in US policy. Obama may want to take a different approach, but it can't happen unless Than Shwe makes a meaningful move. The wily old master of mind games is losing his touch if he thinks his little charade has changed anything.
bobo Wrote:
18/08/2009
We need organizations like the IRA or Hamas. Non-violence doesn't work and the whole world doesn't give damn about it. It's time for some action and we need to fight for our freedom.
KKK Wrote:
18/08/2009
planB,
I agree with you. As a Burmese, I feel very sorry and I am very concerned about the Burmese. We all know the problem is not the UN, US, and the world communities. The PROBLEM is the regime. Bureaucracy is inevitable in any organization. There is no perfect organization in the world. We (people) have been living under aristocracy, bureaucracy, democracy, hypocrisy, and meritocracy since the world began. The question we should ask ourselve is how can we (Burmese) help the Burmese people. We cannot depend on the UN, US, UK, France, China, Russia, and ASEAN. We cannot wait for these countries' help. I feel you, planB.
Ursus Wrote:
18/08/2009
Yan Sai, you got it! This is the big question nobody knows.
All decent people around the world should never forget what crimes the junta has committed and is still committing against humanity and should continue with protests against them and their supporters. I invite all these decent people who live in democratic countries not to stop asking their governments to keep pressure on the Burmese generals, the Chinese dictators and the politicians in various countries who support this crime just because of economic reasons. Burmese people and ethnic minorities have suffered too long and I count on the people's power to bring changes as soon as possible. My hope is also that the generals and their cronies are already old and mentally sick and their life expectancy is fulfilled.
Who was able to foresee that the dictators of the German Democratic Republic and their supporters fell apart from one day to the other?
I am hopeful but we must fight for freedom!
plan Wrote:
18/08/2009
KKK,
The UN, represented by BKM who has toed the West's line from the very beginning, ensures a stalemate in consensus.
The UN should just concentrate on a pure humanitarian effort that is ongoing within the UNICEF.
Unless BKM would like to take this Webb visit as an initiative to further engagement it will be just one that continually picks up pieces of broken humanity around the world—except this one is within Burma. As it is, Burma is receiving the least amount of legitimate assistance for a country. The irony is the SPDC is compared to the worst of governments—but still being helped by UN.
The conscience of the world, the mediator of the human race is now just another bureaucracy, in many respect.
Yangontha Wrote:
17/08/2009
To Yan Sai,
Your comment reminds me of "Unchained (Unchanged ) Melody" by the Righteous Brothers.
Yan Sai Wrote:
17/08/2009
In the end, Webb remains unchanged in his place. Yettaw remains unchanged as well. Daw Suu remains the same place. The country remains unchanged. Than Shwe is still in the same place. The US policy still remains unchanged. What should the people do next???
Yangontha Wrote:
17/08/2009
Webb's performance reminds me of Patti Page's song "How much is that (Yankie) Doggie in the Window" and watching a "Saving Private Yettaw," movie directed by Than Shwe. Perhaps, they might win Oscars next year!
KKK Wrote:
17/08/2009
A US senator is more powerful than a UN Secretary General. Then why do we need to ask help from the UN.
Phyo Oo Wrote:
17/08/2009
This time, Thank Shwe had two unexpected men helped him gets what he wanted, which is to keep Aung San Suu Kyi in silence, at least to the end of the so-called road map.
Surprisingly these two men came from the place Than Shwe did not expect: United States. They are Yettaw and Webb. Yettaw provided most timely excuse for Than Shwe to keep Aung San Suu Kyi in some form of detention just before her previous term of house arrest expired. And Webb provided another most timely opportunity to deflect the lip service pressure from the so called “friends of Burma” after Than Shwe’s puppet court sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi.
I don’t understand why Than Shwe is complaining about Americans since they provided the most crucial support in a crucial time to achieve his “road mad”. Oh, sorry. I mean road map.
tocharian Wrote:
17/08/2009
Webb's visit was not about Yettaw. He was just a "dumb" excuse for both sides. The real reason is geopolitical. Even the Burmese Generals are getting a bit uncomfortable with China's stranglehold on Burma (politically, economically and demographically). Turning to North Korea for support (tunnels and nukes notwithstanding) is not a viable long term solution (let's be honest, even the children and grandchildren of the generals wouldn't like to go live in N Korea, they would prefer to study in the US, UK or at least Singapore!). So there is gradual change (Obama's favourite word) in the Burma/US relationship (sanctions didn't work anyway because there were too many gas-leaks and gun-leaks, especially with China). Even Myanmar Ahlin talks about change! I will be happy to see Burma open up to the West. The Chinese way of Life is not exactly my cup of tea!
timothy Wrote:
17/08/2009
Than Shwe let Yettaw free because he could not handle the demands of the American in jail. American embassy staff are also pacing in and out of prison and Than Shwe could not sleep well. When Nargis hit Burma, he did not allow any rescue workers from the West because he does not want outsiders seeing bad things in Burma. He wants to shut all doors. He said thank you to Senator Webb for bringing very demanding Yettaw out of Burma. He also thanks Yettaw for wonderful help sorting out his problem of isolating Daw Su away from the 2010 election. He likes to give Jim Webb and Yettaw the highest decorations for sorting out his biggest problems. It is not difficult for him to allow Jim Webb seeing Daw Suu. He gains further points positively from America. He can kill Daw Suu later on if he can get further support from his step-father China. He killed Buddhist Monks. He is a very cunning, clever and murderous criminal.
pLan B Wrote:
17/08/2009
"We also call on Burmese authorities to release unconditionally Aung San Suu Kyi and all of Burma’s more than 2,100 political prisoners in order to begin a process of national reconciliation and inclusive political dialogue.”
Yes, but will the released prisoners then insist on the robbed legitimacy?
Or will they move on showing their concern for the people in the face of larger trouble ahead, instead of bickering over who should lead in what way?
Unity is a must now to end the West's neglect of the people.
Otherwise the writings are on the walls:
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16561
Eric Johnston Wrote:
16/08/2009
One cannot regret Yettaw's release, but it is totally irrelevant for Burma and the Burmese.
Kyi May Kaung Wrote:
16/08/2009
One visit is not likely to achieve much.
Than Shwe would have deported Yettaw anyway, they would not risk having him dying on their hands. The sentence of hard labor was to scare people and show who's the master.
The US and the West (as during Nargis) may give up too much and receive very little in return.
SPDC is angling to get sanctions lifted, then it will continue to do what it wants.
We will see.
It's right of dissidents to be wary. After all, Daw Suu and all the political prisoners are still under arrest.
When outcry happened, they were going to send Daw Suu back to her house arrest anyway.
In the meantime they let one of their own, Ne Win's daughter, go.
SoeMyint Wrote:
16/08/2009
“The 20-year-old girl [Burma] is now pregnant, and she is not going to leave her husband [China] anytime soon.”
Unless he treats her badly and a rich suitor is waiting nearby.
But this is probably right:
“Than Shwe is a clever chess player, and he may want to send a signal to China that he could have better relations with America.”
Ursus Wrote:
16/08/2009
Now it must be clear for all that the whole story was staged by the junta.
When Yettaw was in Mae Sot he was talked into this crime by the Burmese intelligence. They told him they were people from the opposition and they needed him to help Aung San Suu Kyi. In fact he didn't meet any people from opposition groups. He was granted freedom after finishing his duty. That's what he has now.
The calculations have been proven right for Than Shwe and his cronies: Aung San Suu Kyi's further detention and better relations with the US. They killed two birds with one stone.
Yettaw will be silent after his release because they threaten to harm Aung San Suu Kyi when he talks too much.
Dr Hlaing Myint Wrote:
16/08/2009
If international observers view the release of John Yettaw as a good gesture from SPDC, I would like to remind them to consider a well-known Burmese saying:
It will be like pardoning the culprit who killed the elephant and distributed the flesh, while punishing the one who accepted the flesh.
Yettaw had intruded once in 2008 Dec; and DASSK had reported it. No action was taken regards:
( 1 ) to tighten security to prevent further intrusion,
( 2 ) no action was taken toward the security personals responsible and taken only on 27 July for that first intrusion.
( 3 ) No investigations, and no detail instructions for further intrusion were given to DASSK. Every law needs detail clarification which is absent here, even with first report.
( 4 ) There is no conditions stated in ACT -401/...that one could be detained, under house arrest. It is to be freed, with remaining period to be re-applied, if one offended the same offence.
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