Editorial: Perhaps It's Time to Call It ‘Burma,’ Again

By Luke Hunt

Myanmar continues to backslide on reforms. It might be time to stop giving its leaders the benefit of the doubt.

Myanmar, or Burma as some people prefer to call it, has been cut much slack in recent years with its supporters urging patience and understanding as it attempts to reform itself. This was highlighted by the recent visit of U.S. President Barack Obama, who had hoped to coax further reforms out of Naypyidaw and President Thein Sein during the recent East Asia summit.

This generosity of spirit has been misplaced. And given what has taken place since Obama left, the attempts by Thein Sein and his cohorts in the military to convince the world that change is genuine look increasingly likely to end in failure.

Since the U.S. president left, political maneuvers have diminished the chances of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi standing at the next election; U.S. companies have been found skirting sanctions by registering in Singapore; the pace of Rohingya fleeing persecution has escalated; and peace talks with Kachin rebels took a blow after a government attack left 20 people dead and another 16 wounded.

All within the space of a week. 

Read the full story at The Diplomat