Lex Rieffel and James Fox
WASHINGTON — The transition in Myanmar that began two years ago — from a military to a quasi-civilian government — is the largest and most encouraging turnaround in the developing world in years.
Much credit goes to President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for deciding to collaborate in seeking to overcome three huge obstacles to progress in this impoverished and tragedy-prone country: ending the civil war that has been waged since independence, providing a policy and institutional framework that will enable the standard of living to rise rapidly, and exploiting the country’s abundant natural resources in a manner that benefits the whole population.

Responding to the unanticipated and remarkable changes taking place, the World Bank, USAID, and more than 100 other official aid agencies and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have flocked to Myanmar to help make the transition a success.

Prime Minister
Canberra

Australia will increase its support for reform and engagement with Myanmar, in recognition of the country’s progress towards democracy.

The Gillard Government today made several significant announcements in support of Myanmar and its people:

    As part of a growing aid program, Australia will provide an additional $20 million over two years for the first phase of the new Myanmar-Australia Partnership for Reform.
    Australia will lift some restrictions on defence engagement and will post a resident Defence Attaché to Myanmar.
    Australia will facilitate increased trade and investment links with Myanmar, and will shortly post a resident Trade Commissioner to Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial centre.

By Dina M. Perez
Myanmar has made remarkable progress in the past few years with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, party leader of the Burmese National League for Democracy, and the agreement of rebel group Karen National Union to end a half-century long civil conflict. These, plus the abolishment of media censorship, make it undeniable that the country is heading for a definitive turn-around.

Following Myanmar’s favorable reforms, this past July the U.S. loosened sanctions on the country and is continuing to do so. However, for some like leader Suu Kyi, removing only a portion of the sanctions is insufficient to further the country’s progress. While the successes the country has celebrated reflect the commendable strides it has made towards a democracy, Myanmar’s current state still mirrors much of the country’s violent history. Considering the conflicts within the Kachin State and against the Rohingya, the international community must not make further moves to ease sanctions and should instead use newly formed diplomatic relations to work towards remedying centuries of the violence that has plagued this nation.