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Obama's move came despite calls from some business and politicalleaders in the United States, Europe and Asia for sanctions to belifted to spur further reforms by Myanmar's nominally civiliangovernment under President Thein Sein. But democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who for years led oppositionto Myanmar's former military junta, warned this week that changewas not irreversible in Myanmar and cautioned about excessiveoptimism. Obama said Myanmar had made progress in a number of areas includingby releasing political prisoners, pursuing cease-fire talks withethnic groups and by opening dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi'sNational League for Democracy. "Burma has made important strides, but the political opening isnascent, and we continue to have concerns, including remainingpolitical prisoners, ongoing conflict, and serious human rightsabuses in ethnic areas," he said. "I have determined that it is necessary to continue the nationalemergency with respect to Burma and to maintain in force thesanctions that respond to this threat," Obama said in a message toCongress using Myanmar's former name. US law requires the president to restrict imports from Myanmar,which for decades was ruled by a military junta, and bans USinvestment and export of financial services to the country. It also blocks property and assets of certain members of theMyanmar ruling class. Obama's administration has championed dialogue with Myanmar but hasbeen cautious about a full lifting of sanctions, saying it needs topreserve leverage to encourage change. Hillary Clinton made the first visit to Myanmar in 50 years by a USsecretary of state in December, and the two countries are movingtowards exchanging ambassadors. Obama's announcement was published hours before talks at the StateDepartment between Clinton and Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna MaungLwin. It also took place on the eve of the G8 summit at Camp David,Maryland, which Obama will host and which is likely to includediscussion about how to promote reform in Myanmar. Suu Kyi, sworn in May 2 as a member of parliament after spendingmost of the past two decades under house arrest, spoke to agathering of US politicians and rights advocates includingex-president George W. Bush, via Skype this week. "I am not against the suspension of sanctions as long as the peopleof the United States feel that this is the right thing to do at themoment. I do advocate caution, though," she said. She warned that she felt sometimes that "people are too optimisticabout the scene in Burma. You have to remember that thedemocratization process is not irreversible." Suu Kyi said that reforms would only be considered irreversibleonce the military -- long Myanmar's most powerful institution witha history of abuses -- firmly committed to changing its ways. The views of Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, are consideredcritical to any US decision to lift decades worth of sanctions onMyanmar. US companies have been eager to enter Myanmar, fearing Asian andEuropean competitors will seize the growing market. The Obamaadministration plans to allow limited investment but is fine-tuningthe rules, as human rights groups push for strict guidelines. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Folding Rolling Carts Manufacturer , China Steel Roll Cage for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Wire Mesh Container.
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