Myanmar activists losing powerful ally with departure of Laura Bush

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Sat Nov 1, 9:55 PM

By Foster Klug, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Activists opposing the military-run junta will lose a powerful ally in January when first lady Laura Bush moves out of the White House.

Voter dissatisfaction with President George W. Bush's Republican Party could also cost them Myanmar's fiercest congressional critic in Mitch McConnell.


The Senate's top Republican is battling to retain his seat in the face of Democrats intent on bolstering their control of Congress with a strong showing in Tuesday's elections.


Laura Bush and McConnell, who heads the panel responsible for financing international programs, have used their high profiles to draw attention to human rights abuses in Myanmar.


They have also put the spotlight on the 13-year detention of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and won tough sanctions aimed at isolating Myanmar, also known as Burma.


Activists in the country say her support has been invaluable.


"The world takes an interest in Myanmar's ethnic issues because of her," said Han Tha Myint, a spokesman for Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy.


"It is moral support for us even though we are not clear how much of the support can translate into change."


Despite the praise, it is questionable whether their efforts have significantly helped Myanmar's democracy movement. The generals remain firmly in power, and Suu Kyi appears no closer to freedom.


David Steinberg, a Myanmar specialist at Georgetown University, said Laura Bush and McConnell's efforts have, in fact, stymied consideration of fresh approaches to Myanmar.


While some in the State Department and Congress are dissatisfied with U.S. policy, "doing anything to change it would be politically unacceptable," Steinberg said, adding that McConnel has resisted others' efforts to deviate from the policy agenda he favours.


"There's no benefit to you, and there's likely to be political harm," he said.


Derek Mitchell, an Asia adviser at the Defence Department during former President Bill Clinton's administration, said it's often difficult to galvanize U.S. officials to focus on a particular issue.


"What (Laura Bush) was able to do was to force the bureaucracy to pay attention to Burma," said Mitchell, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.