David Cameron ready to signal easing of sanctions against Burma
Thursday 12 April 2012
Related articles
David Cameron is ready to signal the easing of sanctions against Burma when he makes a historic visit to the country tomorrow.
In what is believed to be the first ever visit to the former colony by a British Prime Minister, Mr Cameron will deliver a message of support to democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in person.
He is also due to meet President Thein Sein and congratulate him on pushing through democratic reforms.
Details of the trip emerged as Mr Cameron continued his trade mission to South East Asia.
At a joint press conference, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak urged his counterpart to relax sanctions.
Mr Najib, who recently held talks with Mr Thein in Burma, said: "I really do believe first of all that he is sincere.
"This has been supported by Aung San Suu Kyi's own personal remarks about him."
He went on: "We need to support a man like President Thein Sein so he will be supported by the community, because there will be elements who want to take a much more conservative approach."
Mr Cameron said developments in Burma may be "one potential chapter of light" in a "world where there are many dark chapters in history being written".
"Of course we should be sceptical. Of course we should be questioning. Of course we shouldn't be naive," he said.
But he added: "Aung San Suu Kyi herself, who has spent so many years in such a long, lonely but powerful struggle, believes that he is acting in good faith."
Britain had played a "leading role" in the imposition of sanctions, and would also not be "backwards" in responding to positive changes, he went on.
In a question-and-answer session with students at the Nottingham University campus in Malaysia later, Mr Cameron said: "I hope that, following my meetings tomorrow, I will have the confidence to go back to my country, back to others in the European Union, and argue that the change in Burma is irreversible, that they are set on a path towards democracy, that, in a world of difficulty and darkness and all sorts of problems, here is one bright light that we should encourage, and we should respond in a way that makes that regime feel that it is moving in the right direction and that the world is on its side."
Ten members of the business delegation who have been accompanying Mr Cameron around South East Asia are due to travel to Burma tomorrow.
PA
-
Bosses of collapsed banks should be sent to jail, George Osborne told
-
Feat of engineering: Incredible photographs show construction beneath New York's Second Avenue
-
Brazil kicks off: World Cup excess draws hundreds of thousands to street protests
-
World news in pictures
-
Google challenges US surveillance gagging order
- 1 Diary of Second World War German teenager reveals young lives untroubled by Nazi Holocaust in wartime Berlin
- 2 Breaking the Silence: In the reality of occupation, there are no Palestinian civilians – only potential terrorists
- 3 Uri Geller psychic spy? The spoon-bender's secret life as a Mossad and CIA agent revealed
- 4 Viral video straps colt .45 handgun to a home-use drone
- 5 Vice pulls 'breathtakingly tasteless' fashion shoot glorifying the suicides of famous female authors from Sylvia Plath to Virginia Woolf
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Learn a new language
Add another string to your bow with Rosetta Stone, whether it's Spanish, Italian or Mandarin...
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
Senior Electrical Engineering Consultant – Renewable Energy Grid Connections.
Negotiable Depending on Experience: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green R...
BREEAM Consultant
£25000 - £30000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...
Design Engineer - ProE, Hand Calcs
Negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: Dear Sumadhab, A growing engineering comp...
Year 6 Teacher / Year Group Leader
Negotiable: Randstad Education Ilford: We are currently recruiting for a Year ...
Day In a Page
First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention
Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title







Comments