President Obama on Friday delivered a stern message to Myanmar ahead of pivotal elections next year, saying the eyes of the U.S. will be on the Southeast Asian nation as its people head to the polls.
“We expect elections to take place on time. We don’t want any delays,” Mr. Obama said at a press conference with Aung San Suu Kyi, a key opposition leader in Myanmar who has become an icon by pushing for democratic reforms but is barred from running for president simply because her children hold British citizenship.
By holding a press conference with Ms. Suu Kyi rather than Myanmar’s president, Thein Sein, Mr. Obama was offering clear indications that he does not believe the current government has done enough to accelerate reforms.
This is the president’s second visit to Myanmar. He made his first trip to the country in 2012, offering strong support as the country was beginning a long, often painful transition from decades of military rule to a functioning democracy.
While the looming elections could offer signs of hope, Mr. Obama pulled no punches in saying Myanmar still has a long way to go.
He also took direct aim at the provisions within Myanmar’s constitution that prohibit the 69-year-old Ms. Suu Kyi from running for president.
“I don’t understand a provision that would bar somebody from running for president because of who their children are,” Mr. Obama said. “That doesn’t make much sense to me.”
The president also urged Myanmar to provide better protections for religious minorities and to stop the jailing of independent reporters who are critical of the government.
For her part, Ms. Suu Kyi said her country needs to make massive changes to its constitution in order to continue down the road to democracy.
“The majority of our people understand that this constitution cannot stand as it is if we want to make a true transition to democracy,” she said.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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