By Wesley K. Clark , Henrietta H. Fore and Suzanne DiMaggio
Thursday, May 06, 2010
There is no evidence to indicate that Myanmar’s leaders will respond positively to the Obama administration’s central message.
The recently enacted electoral laws, which have been met with international condemnation, already point to a process that lacks credibility.
The US must ensure that its policies do not inadvertently support or encourage authoritarian and corrupt elements in Myanmar society. At the same time, if the US sets the bar too high at the outset, it will deny itself an effective role in helping to move Myanmar away from authoritarian rule and into the world community.
Assistance to non-governmental organizations should be expanded, and US assistance also should be targeted toward small farmers and small and medium-sized businesses. Educational exchanges under the Fulbright and Humphrey Scholar programs and cultural outreach activities should be increased.
If there is no recourse but to pursue stronger sanctions, the US should coordinate with others, including the EU and ASEAN, to impose targeted financial and banking measures to ensure that military leaders and their associates cannot evade the impact of what otherwise would be less-effective unilateral sanctions.
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