RNC Research

Today, the State Department issued a press release condemning reports that the government of Myanmar had filed charges against peaceful protesters.

“The United States is concerned by reports that the Government of Burma has filed criminal charges against peaceful protesters engaged in campaign activities advocating reform of the National Education Law. We call for the immediate, unconditional release of all individuals being detained in the country as a result of exercising their right to peacefully assemble.”

This admittance of policy failure comes as the Obama administration has singled out the country as a “U.S. foreign policy victory” after it appeared to be turning away from military rule and looking towards the West.

“President Obama recently singled out Burma as a U.S. foreign policy victory — a country that had emerged from decades of military rule and turned toward the West, thanks in part to American diplomacy.”

As recently as June, Clinton has touted Myanmar as “one of the many foreign policy successes” of her tenure.

QUESTION: “Jamie Metzl, and thank you so much for being here. One of the many foreign policy successes of your tenure – this is a good introduction for a nice supportive question…” CLINTON: “Yeah, I like that. Keep going.” QUESTION: “… was the – the opening in – the opening to and transition in Burma, in Myanmar.”CLINTON: “Right.” QUESTION: “I’m just back from North Korea, which is, obviously, a very tragic place. In your view, are there any lessons from Burma that might be applied to finding opportunities for engaging with North Korea?” CLINTON: “Well, I will return the favor and say that’s a great question, because…we thought a lot about that, Jamie. With respect to Burma, when I came in, very early in my tenure, because as senator I had been wondering if there were a different approach we could take toward Burma. And in – and making my rounds before confirmation, I met, as I write in the book, with Mitch McConnell, and he had been a leader in the efforts to sanction Burma and he’d been a staunch supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi.”