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US-Burma policy



DATE=3/24/94
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-16463***
TITLE=BURMA / U-S AND ASEAN
BYLINE=Dan Robinson
DATELINE=Bangkok
VOICED AT:

  // RE-ISSUING TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS A BACKGROUND REPORT // 

INTRO:  After completing a year-long review of policy toward 
Burma, the United States is taking steps which officials hope 
will increase pressure on burma's military to improve its human 
rights policies and open a political dialogue with opposition 
forces.  V-O-A's Dan Robinson reports, even as the united states 
attempts a more activist policy, asian countries continue to use 
a different approach with burma's military leaders.

TEXT:  Burma continues to be an object of western criticism, but 
it has been steadily building its economic and diplomatic 
relationships with china and countries in southeast asia.

Thailand and Singapore, and more recently indonesia, have been 
most active in advancing a course of constructive diplomacy 
endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Quite distinct from the approach favored by many western 
governments and human rights groups, this policy holds that 
change is most likely to be achieved by engaging burma's militarY
leaders and expanding investment.

This week, a Rangoon radio broadcast said SIngapore'S Prime 
Minister Goh Chok Tong would pay an official visit to Burma at 
the invitation  of General Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling 
State Law And Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

Singapore has major investment interests in Burma.  It has also 
been criticized for acting as a key trans-shipment point for 
weapons going to burma's military.

The United States is known to have conveyed its concern to 
Singapore over its close ties with burma's military.

A Reuter news agency report this week from washington said the 
Clinton administration has decided to make an official diplomatic
protest to Singapore over arms shipments.  According to the same 
report, the administration's just-completed review of policy 
toward burma included a decision to increase pressure on China.

Since 1990, China has supplied between one-and-a-half billion to 
two-billion dollars worth of weapons to Burma.

// OPT // IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A IN JANUARY, one Rangoon 
observer said the United States was  not  happy with this major 
arms supply relationship.  The observer said CHINA had, in his 
words, insisted on going its own way. // END OPT //

Regional diplomats say the United States does  not  expect China 
will be of much help ,either on the arms issue or human rights in
Burma.

But the administration has apparently chosen to focus on other 
methods it hopes could lead, among other things, to freedom for 
detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Although there has been  no  official announcement, the measures 
are reported to include U-S support for an international arms 
embargo, and the appointment of a special u-n envoy to work for 
Aung San Suu Kyi's release and the start of a political dialogue.

The administration has also apparently delayed any move to send 
an ambassador to rangoon, and has drawn up a code of conduct for 
U-S companies operating in Burma.

Meanwhile, southeast asian nATIONs continue to pursue their own 
agenda, with the encouragement of burma's military leadership.

Rangoon is reported to be pushing for an official visit by 
Thailand's prime minister (Chuan Leekpai).  The Thai foreign 
minister (Prasong Soonsiri) plans to make another visit, probably
in April.

// OPT // In July, Thailand hosts an ASEAN foreign ministers 
meeting in Bangkok.  It successfully lobbied other members to 
invite Burma to attend as a non-participating guest. // END OPT 
//

Philippine foreign secretary, Roberto Romulo, said this week that
he had accepted an invitation to visit Rangoon.  He told 
reporters his trip would enable him to assess whether there has 
been substantive progress on democratization and protection of 
human rights in Burma. (SIGNED)

NEB/FA/CMN

24-Mar-94 10:54 AM EST (1554 UTC)