NAYPYITAW, Myanmar: British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday welcomed a pledge by Myanmar to continue reforms and release more political prisoners, saying such progress, if sustained, would lead to deeper economic and political ties with the West.
The two-day visit by Hague is the first by a foreign minister from the former colonial power since 1955, before the military seized power in what was known as Burma in 1962.
It has been made possible by the handover of power last year to a civilian government — albeit one stuffed with former military men and backed by the army — and a series of political and economic reforms since then.
Hague met Myanmar’s foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, and told reporters he had asked the government for concrete progress in four areas — the release of political prisoners, holding fair by-elections, the resolution of conflict with armed ethnic groups and humanitarian access to conflict areas.
“I have assured him that if they do, there will be a strongly positive response from the UK and, I believe, the rest of the European Union,” Hague said.
“The foreign minister has reaffirmed commitments that have been made to release political prisoners. He said the changes are irreversible and I welcome that way of thinking. I stressed that the world will judge the government by its actions,” he added.
Political reform in Myanmar could pave the way for stiff economic sanction to end and lead to investments in natural resource development including oil and gas. Myanmar’s neighbours in Asia, especially India, Thailand and China, are already rushing to conclude deals to build infrastructure.
His trip follows one late last year by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who promised concrete support from Washington if Myanmar moved faster on political reforms.
Britain has maintained a tough stand on human rights issues in Myanmar but expressed guarded optimism after the release in October last year of 230 political prisoners.
But hundreds more remain in prison and Britain, the United States and the European Union has made their release a condition for lifting sanctions.
Just 12 political detainees were thought to have been freed this week among 900 prisoners freed as an Independence Day gesture. As many as 600 may remain behind bars.
Hague was due to meet President Thein Sein, a former junta general, later in Naypyitaw, the capital built in secret six years ago. He will travel to the main city, Yangon, and is due to hold talks on Friday with Oxford-educated pro-democracy leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Rights violations by the army are still reported from areas where the army and ethnic groups are fighting. (UNI)