Obama to visit Myanmar

President Barack Obama will make Asia his first overseas destination since his re-election, with a trip this month that is to include a historic visit to Myanmar and underscore his desire to reorient United States foreign policy more towards the Pacific during his second term.

The White House announced on Thursday that the newly re-elected President would meet Association of South-east Asian Nations leaders in Cambodia and stop in Thailand and Myanmar. No sitting US President has visited either Myanmar or Cambodia, allowing Mr Obama to reinforce his commitment to the region.

The Nov 17 to 20 trip fits into a larger geopolitical chess game by the Obama administration, which has sought to counter China's rising assertiveness by engaging its neighbours. 

But the planned trip drew criticism from human rights advocates who were worried Mr Obama was going too far by rewarding Yangon's moves towards democracy with a visit, without extracting additional concrete progress like freedom for hundreds of political prisoners still held there. 

He also risks criticism as his visit comes after security forces failed to prevent recent ethnic violence in the west of Myanmar.

The US Campaign for Burma, an exile group, said Mr Obama's trip could "undermine the democracy activists and ethnic minorities", but added that if the President was intent on going, he should meet with the still-powerful military and address Myanmar's Parliament.

A senior official said Mr Obama, who will also speak to civil society groups, was "acutely aware" of concerns about human rights, ethnic violence and political prisoners and would address those issues during his Myanmar visit.

The visit will give Mr Obama a chance to meet President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to encourage the "ongoing democratic transition", White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Myanmar's government said yesterday it "warmly welcomes" Mr Obama's decision to visit the country, noting it will increase the momentum of democratic reform.

Mr Obama met Ms Suu Kyi when she visited Washington in September and he has eased sanctions to encourage the evolution in Myanmar. In November last year, Mrs Hillary Clinton became the first US Secretary of State to visit Myanmar in more than 50 years.

Mr Obama's presence in Myanmar will highlight what his administration sees as a foreign policy achievement.

Myanmar grew close to China during decades of isolation. In Beijing, a senior official from a border province said China saw no threat to its interests from Mr Obama's visit.

"We understand and support the wish of the Myanmar authorities wanting to open up and become part of the world," Mr Qin Guangrong, Communist Party Chief in Yunnan province, said on the sidelines of a party congress. 

The Cambodia stop during Mr Obama's trip has also generated concern. Twelve members of Congress sent Mr Obama a letter on Oct 31 urging him to condemn human rights violations by the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has held power for 27 years.-Today Online (November 10, 2012 4:45PM)