RANGOON — Barack Obama’s newly-won second term in office and unconfirmed reports
of a visit to Burma later this month have been largely welcomed by the
country’s political and business establishments, with many expressing hope that
the US president further strengthens bilateral ties.
Even though the White House has
not confirmed the trip, AFP reports that the newly re-elected US president will
come to Burma on Nov. 19, quoting a Burmese government official.
Win Tin, one of the executive
council members of the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD)
party, said he felt glad about the incumbent’s triumph at Tuesday’s polls. “The
Democrats have supported our country a lot, especially the NLD. So I think it
was good when Mr. Obama was re-elected.”
Moe Myint, the joint-secretary of
the Karen People’s Party, hopes that the re-election and upcoming visit of the
51-year-old will improve the US-Burma relationship.
“During his first term, Mr. Obama
eased some of the sanctions that the US imposed on Burma. He also talked with
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. That means he has good knowledge of what is happening in
our country today,” said Moe Myint.
“If someone else won, there might
have been policy changes for our country. His visit simply shows Burma and the
US are now forging a better relationship. I hope his visit will bring
opportunities for our country.”
Ethnic leaders like Hkun Htun Oo,
president of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, welcomed the Chicago
native’s extra four years in the White House and hoped that he would get
involved in Burma’s minority affairs.
“It is good that he won,” he
said. “Burma’s problems with ethnics groups have not finished yet. If he
intervenes in these issues, it will be good. If we get a chance to see him, we
would explain about the country’s ethnic issues.”
Zaw Aye Maung, the minister for
Arakan (Rakhine) Affairs for Rangoon Division, emphasized that the proposed
visit would be the first from a serving US president for five decades.
“As he is coming after his
victory, he will be happy and there will be willingness [to cooperate],” he
said. “I believe that his willingness to help out will surely work for our
country’s benefit.”
The Rakhine Nationalities
Development Party MP added that he would attempt to arrange a meeting between
the US president and representatives of the Arakanese in Rangoon Network to
explain the real situation and historical context of the current crisis in
western Burma.
Apart from the political arena,
Burmese businessmen have cheered the US president’s return to office and his
expected visit to the country.
Mya Thin Aung, a director of
First Myanmar Investment Co. Ltd. as well as of Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone
in Rangoon, was delighted as the US president has supported Burma’s democratic
transition by easing trade sanctions.
“What perfect timing!” he said.
“Shortly after our president approved the foreign investment law, Mr. Obama was
re-elected and is visiting our country. So it is assumed that the rest of
sanctions will also be revoked, and his visit will surely pave the way for
future investors from America.”
“His Burmese trip will clear the
way for business opportunities,” said Dr. Aung Win, the deputy chairman of the
Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association. “The government needs to discuss
imports and duty free matters with him for we still haven’t had any formal
agreement from the US government.”
US Secretary of the State Hillary
Clinton came to Burma last December, and until now was the highest level White
House official to have visited the country. In July this year, Derek Mitchell,
the new US ambassador to Burma, formally assumed his position 22 years after
diplomatic relations were downgraded in response to the former junta’s brutal
crackdown on the 1988 democratic protests and its failure to honor the
landslide NLD victory in the 1990 general election.
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