Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2002-2003
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, US Department of State

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/shrd/2002/21755.htm

The promotion of democracy and human rights in East Asia and the Pacific has been complicated by the efforts of several Asian nations to legitimize human rights abuses under the rubric of fighting terrorism. This phenomenon has slowed the transition to democracy across Asia, but has by no means reversed the trend. The United States continues to be deeply disturbed by the deplorable human rights records of the North Korean and Burmese regimes. Overall, failures in the rule of law and the lack of transparent, functioning democratic institutions remain serious problems across parts of East Asia and the Pacific, as do military and government abuses of human rights.

Democracy and human rights policy in the region is an important part of USG efforts to improve our bilateral and multilateral relations in the region. In addition to normal bilateral meetings with Asian interlocutors, the U.S. sponsors long-running Human Rights Dialogues with China and Vietnam. The State Department's Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF) currently funds a substantial number of programs that seek to address the systemic challenges to democracy and rule of law in China and Tibet. It also funds programs in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia, as well as an ASEAN-wide program. These programs support documentation of human rights abuses to promote accountability and transparency, local governance, and the rule of law in East Asian and Pacific nations. Our goal in Asia is to encourage governments in their transition to democracy and free and fair elections. The Administration pursues peaceful policies to cope with separatist movements in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and elsewhere that threaten to destabilize the region. The Administration also continues to speak out against the brutal repression and human rights abuses seen in several of the region's nations.

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BURMA

The United States’ human rights and democracy strategy for Burma advocates respect for human rights and rapid political change. We have worked with like-minded countries to maintain maximum international pressure on Burma, pending reform. That pressure includes continued trade, investment, and travel sanctions; the denial of any form of aid, with the exceptions of humanitarian assistance and support for democratic movements opposed to the current dictatorship; continued public criticism of Burma; and outreach programs focused on democratic values, human rights, and good governance. It also includes support for international efforts to foster change in Burma, through the missions of UN Special Envoy Razali and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Pinheiro, as well as the efforts of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other international organizations.

In coordination with the European Union (EU) and other states, the United States has imposed numerous sanctions on Burma. These include an arms embargo; a ban on all new U.S. investment in Burma; the suspension of all bilateral aid, including counternarcotics assistance; the withdrawal of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) privileges; the denial of Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and EXIMBANK programs; visa restrictions on Burma's senior government officials; and a hold on all new lending or grant programs by the international financial institutions. We have also maintained our representation in Burma at the Chargé d'Affaires level since 1990.

Burma continues to be hostile to all forms of political opposition. The U.S. has encouraged UN efforts to free the approximately 1,300 political detainees. This effort has resulted in the release of over 500 political prisoners and the re-opening of opposition political party offices. Aung San Suu Kyi was also released from house arrest. During travels throughout Burma, U.S. officials have also personally interviewed victims of political violence and facilitated access for other such U.S. investigations into human rights abuses. Furthermore, the USG maintains frequent contacts with influential members of the political opposition regarding initiatives that will affect the struggle for democracy in Burma.

The U.S. Government promoted the rule of law and democracy by providing exchange programs and information on protection of human rights and civic education. In 2002, the U.S. dedicated over $200,000 to speaker programs, exchange programs, publications and other information outreach. Furthermore, the USG's direct teaching program offered tuition waivers worth $8,000 to 33 students denied the opportunity to study because of their political beliefs. In addition, we provided $4.0 million in support of the Burmese democratic opposition in Fiscal Year (FY) 2002. These funds are programmed through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and others and focus on democracy and capacity-building activities and for the collection and dissemination of information on democracy and human rights.

The U.S. urged the Burmese regime, which has not allowed domestic human rights groups to function independently and is hostile to outside scrutiny of their human rights record, to accept visits by international human rights organizations. Amnesty International completed its first visit to Burma in 2003.

When the Burmese government categorically denied that its soldiers had been involved in any of the rapes they were accused of committing, the U.S. investigated, called the Government to account at a public press conference, and continued to press for an international investigation of the charges, posting U.S. findings on the Department of State’s website.

The U.S. has co-sponsored annual resolutions at the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Commission on Human Rights that highlight and draw international attention to the continued human rights violations in Burma.

Throughout the year, the U.S. continued to encourage the Government to allow workers' rights and unions and to discontinue its use of forced labor. We supported the establishment of a liaison office of the ILO in Burma, which was eventually permitted by the Government, and which made efforts to bring the Government into compliance with its international labor obligations.

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