Continuing on following the ethnic conflict in Myanmar, ABC News posted an article on Thursday about Myanmar's President, Thein Sein, and his comments promising an improved government in Myanmar. President Thein Sein is proclaiming that the Burmese government will build on the reforms that is began last year, when he took office, and will work hard to convince those world powers who are skeptical that they are committed to democratic change. The world powers they are trying to convince, the United States and the European Union, are noticing the changes that are happening and applaud the country for its move toward a government with more freedom. Since President Thein Sein took office a year ago, there have been some major changes in the country. He freed many political prisoners, signed cease fires with armed rebel groups (like the Kachin Independence Army), eased restrictions on the press, and opened a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. As impressive as President Thein Sein's list of accomplishments is on paper, looking at the current condition of the country is evidence that his efforts are not being followed in some areas.
Apparently, the Burmese army is still wreaking havoc throughout the country, especially to the Kachin people, raping women and killing innocent civilians. The President signed a cease fire so that the army would stop its attacks, but the military generals from the old government, before democracy, are really running the show. President Thein Sein seems to be under the impression he has the power, but really, the military still runs the show, behind the scenes.
The obvious issues in the country that are going unnoticed by no one except President Thein Sein himself are causing the US and the European Union to be wary of opening trade with the country. They are waiting until April elections to see what will become of this superficially democratic country.
Myanmar's situation seems to be the most difficult to fix because if the military isn't listening to the president and the rebels are not going to budge, what will stop the army? The military leaders? Who will get rid of them? There is a section of Burmese law where it talks about circumstances where the army doesn't have to listen to the president's orders. That makes things extremely hard and with things as rocky and complicated as they are, no country is going to step in for fear of making things worse.
President Thein Sein is so fixed on trying to make the country look good, I do not feel as though he is doing enough to fix the issues. I want to know what his plans are to reign in his military and fix the ethnically torn country. Instead of promising certain ethnic groups, like the Kachin, that they will get their political freedom and human rights, why doesn't he show it. He is unintentionally making himself look like a man in denial to the rest of the world and I'm interested to see how he continues to handle the conflicts in the country. Specifically, how will he stop the ethnic war effectively, bringing tens of thousands of people back to his country.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/myanmar-president-vows-democratic-reform-15822751#.T1J_doem-O5
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