Burma-U.S.

Relationship
Eliran Gazala Global Studies 11-28-12

Brief History
Was under British and then Japanese occupation before independence (1824-1937, 1942-1947) 1948- U Nu is first PM 1960- military is angry at U Nu 1962- military-led state
Nationalized economy, Socialist Programme Party, ban on all independent newspapers

1974- new const. comes into affect

Transfers power to Peoples Assembly (Ne Win)

1981- Ne Win hands power over to San Yu

Riots and Repression

1987- Currency devaluation wipes out many peoples savings
Start of anti-govt. riots

1988-State Law and Order Restoration Council formed 8888 Uprising- demanded democracy
Left thousands killed (guns were not to shoot upwards)

1989- Slorc declares martial law and arrest advocates of democracy and human rights.
Burma is renamed to Myanmar (Yangon is now capital)

Reform Era
2001- Thai relations reform
Chinese Pres. Jiang Zemin visits, urges economic reform

2002- Aung San Suu Kyi released from house arrest after 20 months 2003- Khin Nyunt becomes PM and new constitution to be written in 2004 2004- Jan. starts with convention stopped in July

Regression
2004-Oct.-PM placed under house arrest (power struggle) 2005-Feb.-Const. Convention resumes but ends in Jan. 2006 with no outcomes

What Does the U.S. want?

U.S supports peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Burma
Respecting all human rights

What Does the U.S. do?

Place sanctions on Burma
Economic, financial, and travel

Support UN to put into attention the human rights situation

Reform (Again)!!
March 2011- U.S. relations begin to improve
Pres. Thein Sein elected
Showed reform
Released political prisoners, signed ceasefire agreements with ethnic groups, Aung San Suu Kyi made a political leader

Improving Relations
Dec. 2011- Secretary Clinton travels to Burma
First in 50 yrs.

U.S. is also re-establishing an in-country U.S. Agency for International Development mission
Enables U.S. to pursue nonporfit activities (democracy building to health and education)

Signs of Improving Relations

U.S. ease sanctions on Burma
Pres. Barack Obama said significant progress alon the path to democracy, and the government has continued to make important and economic reforms reforms remain unfinished

What Sanctions
Burmese goods to be imported into U.S.
More opportunities for your people to sell their goods into our market. (Sec. Clinton)
Leads to economic rise

 Smith, Christopher. "8888 Uprising History | ABITSU - All Burma I.T Students Union." ABITSU All Burma IT Students Union RSS. ABITSU, 09 Aug. 2007. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.abitsu.org/?p=32>. Staff, CNN Wire. "U.S. Eases Sanctions on Myanmar - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/11/world/asia/us-myanmar-easingsactions/index.html>. "Timeline: Burma A Chronology of Key Events." Timeline: Burma A Chronology of Key Events. BBC, Jan. 2007. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Burma/Timeline_Burma.html>. "U.S. Relations With Burma." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 01 Aug. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm>. York, Associated Press in New. "US to Ease Economic Sanctions on Burma in Response to Reforms." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 27 Sept. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/27/us-eases-burmasanctions-clinton-sein>.

Work Cited