Sept 11, 2009 (DVB), The United States senator who met with Burma's ruling generals in August and secured the release of John Yettaw is to chair a discussion on US policy to Burma, he announced yesterday.

Virginia senator Jim Webb was the first senior US politician to meet with Burma's junta supremo, Than Shwe. During his visit he also met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Webb, who is outspoken in his anti-sanctions stance on Burma, stirred debate following the visit with an article in the New York Times that called for greater engagement with the regime.

US policy to Burma is currently under review following the apparent failure of sanctions to pressure the ruling junta.

Critics of current US policy argue that the impact of sanctions is significantly weakened given the strong economic support from Burma's regional neighbours, particularly China.

"The hearing will evaluate the effectiveness of US policy toward Burma, with a focus on US-imposed economic sanctions that have not been matched by other countries," a statement said.

Burma's regional neighbours continue to trade with the regime and oppose sanctions. Thailand relies on Burma for the majority of its energy needs, while China is currently building oil and gas pipelines through Burma to access the country's vast gas reserves.

As chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Webb has considerable clout on US policy to the region. During his August trip he also visited Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Following his meeting with Than Shwe, Webb secured the release of imprisoned US citizen John Yettaw, whose May visit to Suu Kyi's compound triggered her detention. Yettaw had been sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour.

Following the visit, Webb was criticized by voices in the pro-sanctions lobby for apparently handing legitimacy to the regime.

Critics of greater engagement claim that softening US policy to Burma rewards the regime despite no gains being made.

Reporting by Francis Wade

Sept 10, 2009 (DVB), A leading human rights watchdog has said that new United States policy to Burma should take a three-pronged approach and must be implemented soon.

An open letter sent yesterday to US secretary of state Hillary Clinton by Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the government to conclude the policy review "so that American policy and strategy towards Burma will be clear to all concerned".

Clinton had announced the review in February following comments that sanctions had failed to shift the ruling generals.

The letter acknowledged the intransigence of the Burmese junta and said that change will not occur "unless concerned governments and international bodies take steps to change the [government's] calculations".

Burma is gearing up for elections scheduled for March next year, although critics have said that the redrafted 2008 constitution guarantees entrenchment of military rule.

Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, is barred from running in the elections, and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party are yet to confirm whether they will participate.

The US has, along with other Western nations, followed a path of aggressive sanctions on Burma, while regional neighbours such as Thailand and China have chosen instead to engage with the regime.

A recent visit to Burma by US senator Jim Webb was followed with an article in the New York Times calling for an easing of sanctions and greater engagement.

In light of the support for the regime from neighbouring countries and the consequent failure of sanctions, HRW urged Clinton not to take various policy strategies as either/or choices.

"We suggest that the policy review should, therefore, aim at making more effective all three prongs of US policy – diplomacy, sanctions and humanitarian aid – and not placing one ahead of the others", it said.

Three US congress staff who met with NLD members last month said that the US is "seriously considering" the new policy but warned that it wouldn't be introduced soon.

The potential for greater engagement with the regime would be in keeping with US president Barrack Obama's pledge to "hold out a hand" to rogue states if they "unclench their fist".

The strategy would appear to counter former president George Bush's policy of isolating hostile states.

Reporting by Francis Wade