Webb says sanction against Myanmar `unhealthy` for region

BANGKOK/YANGON, Aug. 16 Kyodo -
Sanctions imposed against military-ruled Myanmar have created an ''imbalance''
that affects the long-term goals of many other countries and is unhealthy for
the region, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb said in Bangkok on Sunday upon arrival after a
two-day visit to Myanmar.
While in Myanmar, Webb was the first senior U.S. official to meet with
Myanmar's top general and he won the release Sunday of an American man held for
breaching the house arrest of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
At a press conference in Bangkok, he urged countries that call for the United
States and the European Union to put greater sanctions on Myanmar to encourage
China to join in finding a solution to Myanmar's internal stalemate.
''I believe that China has an obligation to end its silence and to use its
influence in order to assist and resolve the situation,'' he said.
''The sanctions in the past several years have increased Myanmar's isolation
from Western governments and culture. These are major impediments in allowing
the Burmese people the kind of access to the outside world that is essential to
the economic and political growth and yet at the same time these sanctions have
allowed China to dramatically increase its economic and political influence in
Myanmar,'' he said.
Webb, a Vietnam War veteran who is now a senator from Virginia, also called for
change in formulas to help people in Myanmar improve their lives.
He met with Suu Kyi on Saturday and said he encouraged her and members of her
opposition National League for Democracy ''to try to find a way to work inside
the political process.''
But she told him, he said, ''She would prefer to wait and have a unified
statement from her party at large.''
Webb said he ''strongly offered the suggestion'' to Myanmar's leadership the
United States would want to be involved in implementing legislation and
eventually a general election in the country.
''I don't think we should dismiss this out of hand,'' he said in response to a
question about the possible fairness of next year's planned general election.
Webb added he asked Myanmar to consider releasing Suu Kyi and allowing her to
fully participate in the political process.
''I'm hopeful that as the months move forward, they will take a look at
(releasing her),'' he added. ''What we are hopefully in the process is a
confidence-building. Whether they will release Aung San Suu Kyi from her house
arrest is something over which I have no control.''
In Yangon, Webb, who arrived in Myanmar on Friday, told reporters Sunday he had
made ''two requests and an observation.''
''The first request was to release American (John) Yettaw. I believe he was
probably motivated by good intentions, but he committed a very serious
violation in this country.''
''I am not going to apologize for his actions that he took, but I believe that
it was a good gesture from your government to our country for humanitarian
reasons to allow him to go home to his family, '' Webb told Myanmar reporters.
Yettaw, 53, was sentenced to seven years in prison for illegally swimming in a
lake to Suu Kyi's home last May, for breaching the terms of her house arrest
and for breaking Myanmar immigration rules.
Suu Kyi and two aides each got three years in prison, reduced to half and
suspended for 18 months for allowing Yettaw to stay at Suu Kyi's home for two
days.
The three have since been returned to house arrest.
Webb said his second request was to meet Suu Kyi.
''We had that visit. It was my desire during that visit to convey my respect
for Aung San Suu Kyi for sacrifices she had made over the years in the cause of
democracy,'' he said.
The observation, Webb said, ''was that I hope your government would consider
releasing her from her detention and allowing her to participate. This I think
would be very crucial for the outside world viewing the coming elections as
full and fair.''
Webb, who met with junta chief Sr. Gen. Than Shwe on Saturday, as well as the
leaders of various political parties and Suu Kyi, had discussions with Prime
Minister Gen. Thein Sein and other senior junta ministers on Friday in
Naypyitaw, the country's administrative capital 400 kilometers north of Yangon.
''We had very strong discussions about ways that we might be able to move
forward once certain obstacles are clear and again I want to express my
appreciation for the meetings that were arranged for me and also my best wishes
to the people of Myanmar,'' Webb said before leaving with Yettaw for Thailand.
The Virginia Democrat is chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs
Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his visit to
Myanmar was a stop on a two-week, five-country tour of Asia.
Sunday, he said, ''I am hopeful that the relations between the United States
and Myanmar will move forward...and in terms of reconciliation I believe that
the challenge will be, from my perspective, from the outside perspective, will
be the drafting of the election law...and ensuring that elections are full and
fair.''
''The United States remains very willing to assist in that determination,''
Webb said, adding U.S. policy toward Myanmar is being reexamined.
The senator said, ''If certain obstacles are removed there is a natural
friendship between the United States and the people of this country and it is
toward that end I came here and I will be working toward those solutions.''
Commenting further on the release of Yettaw, he said, ''I raised my concern and
my request in more than one meeting. It was considered and was granted...''
''As I said, I in no way condone what Mr. Yettaw did. I am not here to defend
what he did. But I think in humanitarian terms it's very good that he will
receive further medical care and return to his family. He is clearly in poor
health.''
==Kyodo