After finally pulling off her symbolic burqua as part of the 2009 ASEAN Asia Tour Relaunch, Secretary of State Clinton yesterday gave a long, diplomatic French kiss in the form of investment incentives to Burma's military regime if they released one of the world's most famous political prisoners -- Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.
In an interview for NPR, Clinton stated she believes that the regime is in "angst" over what to do with the jailed Suu Kyi who is facing another round of trumped-up charges. She didn't have long to wait to see how far that smooch got her -- the regime's mouthpiece, the New Light of Myanmar, stated in an article today titled "Wipe out Anti-Public Desire Elements" (are they taking lessons from North Korean propagandists or vice versa?), assured readers and by extension Madame Secretary that there are no political prioners rotting in Burmese jails. "The government has said many times that there are no political prisoners in Myanmar. They are, indeed, the ones who are serving their terms in accordance with the law for their harming stability and peace of the State, and committing other crimes. Daw Suu Kyi, like them, is not a political prisoner."
Looks like the only angst is at State, where after six months they have yet to develop a coherent policy on how to handle Burma and other bad regimes. For those worried, fear not, the Senate is scheduled to vote today on reimposing a broad set of sanctions on Burma. For the record, the NGO Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma confirms that more than 2,100 Burmese are jailed for such heinous crimes as demanding freedom, democracy, and human rights.
