Despite policy reviews, the United States will not lift sanctions against Burma's military junta unless real progress is made in the country's political reform, a senior US diplomat said yesterday.
"We want to maintain our sanctions even though sanctions alone don't work effectively, but we will maintain them, depending on progress," said US Ambassador for Asean Affairs, Scot Marciel on his return from a visit to Burma.
Marciel, together with his boss -Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell - visited Burma on Tuesday and Wednesday to begin a "pragmatic engagement" policy towards the junta, aiming to foster democracy in the military-ruled nation.
The policy review confronts the fact that sanctions have made no difference and Asean's engagement has made no progress either, he said.
Despite US policy changes, the fundamental goal has not altered, he said. "We want to see Burma as a country of peace, unified, prosperous, respecting the rights of citizens, and democratic," he said.
During the two-day visit, Campbell and Marciel met with senior government officials including Prime Minister Thein Sein, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and representatives of ethnic minority groups.
The Burmese authorities made no promise to the American diplomats on releasing any political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving 18-months under house arrest.
Marciel said he would not gauge his visit on the number of political prisoners released. "Real progress [will be when] all political prisoners are released and dialogue begins. We would look forward, but to real progress," he said.
Dialogue between the Burmese authorities, opposition and ethnic minority groups would be a key element to achieve the progress, he said.
The fundamental problem is the lack of an inclusive political process in Burma and dialogue among key players - essential to achieving political progress, he said.
Marciel said political inclusiveness would mean all political forces allowed to participate in the general election due next year.
"If it is not a fully inclusive process and included the party which won a majority in a previous election, it would be hard for me to see how it is creditable," he said.