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                      US Watching Myanmar Election Closely

   by Nike Ching

   While a key U.S. official hints that the upcoming election in Myanmar
   could lead to more engagement, while critics claim the military is
   still too powerful.  A U.S. State Department spokesman Thursday said
   key officials are closely watching Sunday's election in the country for
   signs of progress from military dictatorship to democracy.

   Spokesman John Kirby said U.S. Ambassador Derek Mitchell, U.S. embassy
   staff, USAID Assistant Administrator Jonathan Stivers and congressional
   staffers will be monitoring throughout the election.

   "The United States has provided elections monitoring training and
   support to civil society organizations there, which will field 5,000
   independent, non-partisan electoral advisers, and we continue to urge
   the government of Burma [Myanmar] to allow observers to access advance
   voting in the military compounds," said Kirby at a briefing in
   Washington," said Kirby.

   One problem that is potentially facing the conduct of the election is
   the failure of the Myanmar election commission to finalize voter lists
   just days before the balloting.

   "We are focused on ensuring that the conduct and outcome of the
   elections are as credible, transparent and as inclusive as
   possible......we will continue to emphasize the importance that key
   Burmese [Myanmar] political institutions respect the outcome of that
   process," said Kirby.

   The U.S. has spent millions of dollars in the past few years to
   strengthen Myanmar's democratic institutions, including voter
   education, training of poll workers and observers and working with
   institutions to help political parties develop their platforms.

   Myanmar's elections are seen as an important milestone in its political
   transition away from decades of military dictatorship.  It is the
   country's first general election since a nominally civilian government
   was introduced in 2011.

   In 2012, while easing restrictions to allow U.S. companies to
   responsibly do business in Myanmar, also known as Burma, President
   Obama also signed an executive order to broaden the scope of existing
   sanctions for those who engage in human rights abuses or contribute to
   ethnic conflicts.

   ''

   Earlier this week, White House Deputy National Security Adviser for
   Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes, who recently traveled to Myanmar,
   told an audience in Washington that "there're a lot of potential
   benefits down the road."

   That could be viewed as the possibility of more U.S. and western
   engagement, including the lifting or easing of more sanctions against
   Myanmar.

   David Steinberg of Georgetown University believes the election will
   push Myanmar toward pluralism as a first step towards real democracy.
   In a recent interview with VOA, Steinberg said the vote will have
   multiple benefits.

   "One, for establishing a free election tradition in the country for the
   future; two, it will be very important for international perception in
   the west, especially of the future of the country."

   But Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch Asia Division Deputy Director,
   told VOA in an email that "the US government should not even be
   contemplating the relaxing of sanctions because when one scratches the
   surface of Burmese politics or the economy, what's underneath is the
   Burma Army."

   Although the Myanmar government has undertaken a number of reforms
   since 2011, critics say significant challenges still remain.  They say
   some structural impediments to an inclusive and fair democracy include
   constitutional restrictions on political participation and
   discrimination against ethnic minorities and religious groups.

   Although Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition leader and Nobel laureate, is
   leading a vigorous election challenge to the ruling party, she is
   barred by the current constitution from becoming the President.

   Another example, critics point to, is the mass disfranchisement of tens
   of thousands of ethnic and religious minorities, including the largely
   Muslim Rohingya people.

   Robertson said the United States could do a number of things to
   penalize the continuing discrimination against Muslim minorities,  but
   it is likely the government would continue its policy of "engagement
   and suasion."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-watching-myanmar-election-closely/
   3041460.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-watching-myanmar-election-closely/3041460.html