The US Policy on Democracy in Burma (1988 - 2021)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69974/glskalp.03.02.11Keywords:
The United States, Burma, Democracy, Policy, Human Rights, Saw MaungAbstract
After General Saw Maung's military coup in 1988, a military junta was established in Burma. The junta established the National Law and Order Restoration Commission (SLORC), which declared martial law after mass protests. This has posed many challenges in relations between Burma and Western countries, including the United States. Since 1988, US policy towards Burma has focused heavily on democracy and human rights issues, increasing pressure to promote freedom and democracy in this country. The United States implemented a policy of promoting democratization in Burma through two stages (1988 - 2001 and 2001 - 2021) that contributed to changing the face of democracy in this country until General Min Aung Hlaing once again overthrow the civilian government in Burma. The study aims to analyze U.S. policies and evaluate the results in promoting democratization in Burma through the two aforementioned phases. To achieve these goals, the article uses analytical and comparison methods based on the latest published research and document sources on the issue. The research results contribute to assessing the impact of US policies on promoting the democratization process in Burma in the period 1988 - 2021, and also contribute to the study of US relations - Burma in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century.
References
The dawn of Myanmar-US relations (2022) ttps://lostfootsteps.org/en/history/the-dawn-of-myanmar-us-relations, accessed 15 march 2022.
Nordlinger, Eric A. (1976), Soldiers in Politics: Military Coups and Governments, London: Prentice Hall.
Timeline: US-Burma Relations”, Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, 32 (3), p.434-436.
Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Intervention at Sixth ASEAN Regional Forum Singapore, July 26, 1999, https://1997-2001.state.gov/statements/1999/ 990726.html.
Asia's New Test”, The Australian, 28 July 1997.
Le Khuong Thuy (2003), US policy towards ASEAN during and after the Cold War, Social Science Publishing House, Hanoi
Carlyle A. Thayer (1997), ASEAN's Expanding Membership, Submission to Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Parliament of Australia.
Peter Alford and Don Greenlees (1997), “Leave Asia to the Asians, Mahathir warns US”, The Australian, 25 July 1997.
Hung MING-TE & Tony Tai-TING LIU (2012), U.S. Foreign Policy In Southeast Asia Under The Obama Administration: Explaining U.S.Return To Asia And Its Strategic Implications, Usak Yearbook, Vol.5.
Robert Taylor (2008), “Myanmar in 2007: Growing pressure for change but the regime remains obdurate”, Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
Reuter, (2007), “Bush condemns Myanmar crackdown after U.N. report” at https://www.reuters. com/article/us-bush-myanmar/bush-condemns-myanmar-crackdown-after-u-n-report-idUSN1154158020071212.
Statement by ASEAN Chair, Singapore s Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo, New York, 27 September 2007.
Foster Klug (2008), “Bush says world should condemn Myanmar”, AP, May 12, 2008.
Richard Weitz (2008), “Cyclone Nargis exacerbated ASEAN s Myanmar dilemma”, World Politics Review, Hudson Institute, Stanford University.
Joint Communique of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial meeting, One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia, Singapore, 21 July 2008, http://www.aseansec.org/21771.htm.
Tim Huxley (2008), “Southeast Asia in 2007: Domestic Concerns, Delicate Bilateral Relations, and Patchy Regionalism”, Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
Joint Statement-1st ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting, Singapore, November 15, 2009, http://www.aseansec.org/24020.htm
ASEAN Could Call for Suu Kyi Release: U.S. Senator”, Agence France-Presse, August 18, 2009.
US Department of State, US Policy Toward Burma, Kurt M Campbell, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs: Statement Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, 25 April 2012, http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2012/188446.htm.
S Naing, “Has Burma’s Glasnost Begun?”, The Irrawaddy, 16 February 2012, viewed 2 May 2012, http://www2. irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=23049
U.S. Department of States (2021), U.S. Relations With Burma at https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-burma/.
H Clinton (US Secretary of State), Recognising and supporting Burma’s democratic 23. Reforms, Secretary’s remarks, 4 April 2012, viewed 30 April 2012, http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/04/187439.htm.
H Clinton (US Secretary of State), Remarks with Foreign Minister of Burma U Wanna Maung after their meeting, Secretary’s remarks, 17 May 2012, viewed 18 May 2012, http://www.state.gov/secretary /rm/2012/05 /190260 .htm.
The US faces a new choice in its policy towards Myanmar, http://nghiencuubiendong.vn/quan-h-quc-t/4912-my-dung-truoc-su-lua-chon-moi-trong-chinh- sach-doi-voi-myanmar.
“Myanmar seeking ethnic cleansing, says UN official as Rohingya flee persecution”, The Guardian, 24 Nov 2016.
H.Res.418 - Urging the Government of Burma to end the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups within Burma, The House of Representatives, U. S., May 7, 2014.
“Myanmar coup reverses a fragile democracy”, Financial Times, 2 Feb 2021.
U.S.-Burma Relations, https://mm.usembassy.gov/u-s-burma-relations/.
U.S. Relations With Burma, https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-burma/.
David Brunnstrom, Matt Spetalnick, Jarrett Renshaw, “Biden threatens U.S. sanctions after Myanmar coup, launches policy review”, Reuters, Feb 2, 2021.
U.S. Department of Security, (2021), Secretary Mayorkas Designates Burma for Temporary Protected Status, https://www.dhs.gov/news/202
/03/12/secretary-mayorkas-designates-burma-temporary-protected-status.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, (2021), Burma, at: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/southeast-asia-pacific/burma.
