DiMaggio on Myanmar's 'Moment of Change'
Suzanne DiMaggio, Asia Society's Vice President of Global Policy Programs, has an op-ed on CNN.com today entitled "Clinton visit presents opportunity in Myanmar." Here's how it begins:
Hillary Clinton's upcoming trip to Myanmar — the first visit by a U.S. Secretary of State in half a century — is poised to produce a breakthrough moment in U.S.-Burma relations.
Some worry that such a high-level visit is premature. Given that government's long history of authoritarian rule and systematic violations of human rights, vigilance is in order. But, to its credit, the Obama administration understands that this is not the time to stand on the sidelines and wait for change to happen.
How this transition plays out in Myanmar, historically known as Burma, is a story that hasn't been written yet. The United States should actively test the new government's credibility and commitment to reform and do all that it can to encourage, prod, and push for positive change.
The pace of change in Myanmar over recent months has stunned even the most skeptical observers.
Read the whole story at CNN.com.