Now that the US and Europe are more willing to lift their sanctions of the country of Myanmar, the Karen National Union (KNU), is urging them to wait for more political reforms in the country. Specifically, the KNU is urging that the US and Europe wait for a last national cease fire.The possibility of ending the ethnic conflict in Myanmar, formally Burma, was discussed just last week when Myanmar's president Thein Sein and opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, met to have a talk of peace.
On Friday (April 14th), the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the Myanmar leaders are supposed to meet and Prime Minister Cameron will help to push to end sanctions if he is satisfied with the political reforms in process. The reforms that have already been implemented are making the country look good to the west. For example, president Thein Sein has affirmed his commitment to taking the KNU off the list of outlawed organizations. There have also been meetings between the government and the KNU to talk about forming a "code of conduct" for the cease-fire that includes how the Myanmar military should treat ethnic minority civilians.
The US and Europe are willing to lift the sanctions because of all the positive change and political reforms that are happening and are predicted to happen. Now, they just have to see it to really believe it. The latest peace talks have been about making this former military state into a democratic nation that will be able to freely trade with the West. Although the reforms are shown to be for the good of the people, it is also for economic gains as well. Having these western super powers lift their sanctions on the country will greatly help out their economy and help them to expand. However, none of this will happen if there is no cease-fire.
I think it is very wise that the KNU's leader, the famous Aung San Suu Kyi, is advising that the US and Europe wait before they release their sanctions on Myanmar. What if the country waits for them to lift the sanctions and then the revert back to their old ways? It would be one of those situations where the Burmese can say, "Ha! Jokes on you!" I also think that they need a true cease-fire before anything will change. There has to be an agreement that will stick so that no more innocent people will be killed. There also needs to be a section in the agreement that discusses the proper behavior of the military, since they have not behaved properly during this time. To me, it is amazing what developing countries will do to get the aid of the US and Europe. These countries hold so much power in the world and they have the power to encourage change without violence. However, if they can help Myanmar to change, can they help other developing nations? I'm wondering why the US is so interested in Myanmar in the first place? There has to be a political or resourceful gain that comes with the country. The first thing that comes to mind for me is that Myanmar is right on the edge of China. Maybe the US sees that as an access point, but I am not sure. The one thing I can say about our country is that we don't often do things just to be helpful, usually we have some personal reason involved, but who knows? I am just glad to see the conflict slowly coming to an end.
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