For the permanent presence of their national interest, superpowers expand their spheres of politics, economy and military by all means and at the same time, aim for other countries not to emarge powerful in terms of politics, economic and military means, other than themselves. They apparently work out to chieve their goal in terms of these three areas. They have become to make efforts contentiously to influence the smaller countries and to get hold of the leading role in the political and economic situations of other countries.
The world has seen a superpower making strategic plans to harass and deter countries likely to become its rival. Currently, the superpower-United States is seen working on its strategy to curb the gradual expansion of power and strength by China and India. Hence, the United states has obviously continued its efforts to maintain its power and strong hold in South Asia and Southeast Asia in a way, it has trained certain countries, organizations and individuals as its own affiliates to support its own national interest. Those countries and individuals have been given a lot of incentives and constantly organized to work for the interests of the United States.
United States have been apparently aiming to achieve its own interest and work out its strategy. Those values such as democracy, human rights and humanitarian consideration, are merely the instruments for achieving its own interest, which are being used as a cover-up. In fact, United States does not value the existence of democracy, human rights and humanitarian concerns of those countries. It neither worries about the nonexistence of those values nor happy about their achievement in those countries. That does not mean anything to the United States. What matters is for those countries to strictly adhere to its strategy contribute to the success. As such, certain small countries are seen badly hurt and strugglig amid the United States' repeated cycle of strategy.
Looking at the situation of Myanmar, the United States aims to use Myanmar to contain China and India, in terms of geo-politics. The need to nurture its affiliated persons or organizations arises out of that objective. In connection with the 1988 disturbances in Myanmar, Daw Aung San Su Kyi and NLD party became its choice to fulfill that particular requirement. That was the time when Daw Su Kyi, as the daughter of General Aung San, was trying to take hold of the leading role in Myanmar and NLD, on the other hand, was in pursuit of power by exploiting Daw Su Kyi as a puppet-leader. NLD, in view of gaining state power, collaborated with the United States to bring about its interest.
During the 1988 crisis, despite coercion through economic sanctions by the United States, the government of Myanmar, out of its perseverance and sincerity, could bring about unprecedented development to the country.
As for Daw Su Kyi, with the support of merely a group of followers who share common interest with her, has been in the know of not earning support from the majority of the people of Myanmar, however, still, too stubborn by nature to give up. The United States, in time, has also become convinced that Daw'Su Kyi could not bring about their interest. Today, it could be seen that the NLD's strategy to work out on its interest and the United States desired interest is gradually becoming confrontational. In such circumstances, the United States would never stick to the individual of an organization whom it cannot influence any further, while the other person or organization in question would only be motivated, provided there is enough evidence for consequential face-saving. The personal background of Daw Su Kyi's past has been well collected by the United States. Based on her personal status as the daughter of General Aung San and her sharp personality, she was chosen to work out on its interest.
The real outcome and the consequences turned out against the expectations of both the United States and the NLD. The leadership of Daw Su Kyi has become unpopular in the NLD as her stances deviates from the interest of the party and the country. That was also clear to the United States and eventually led to the disintegration among the NLD.
After the visit of Senator Jim Webb, the conflict based on self-serving interest between NLD and United States became larger. Many of the NLD members were becoming unhappy to follow Daw Su Kyi's dictatorial rule. The divide was becoming more and more obvious.
There is a valid reason that as a consequence of Senator Jim Webb's visit, hindrance between the NLD against its allies and the international organizations which strongly supported the NLD were instigated. The oppositions have all along been obsessed with deposing the government which is contrary to the reconciliation. Their demand for changing the constitution is far-fetched, as experts say there is no such constitution which is entirely explicit. Referring the actions of the international community including superpowers, we could obviously see that a state constitution has to be amended or updated according to the changing patterns of time and circumstances. If supporters of foreign powers could achieve their goal within the margin of the current constitution, it is assumed that NLD supporters and NLD allies could be more in harmony.
The United States' interest in Myanmar originates way back up to 60 years ago. The policy plan of Obama Administration is to continue its old strategy in the region, backed up by NLD. In other words, the motive is to contain the rivals of Eurasia highland.
The United States views that it is important to contain the growing Chinese influence on Myanmar. The assistances, the supports, the executive and competitive capabilities of China in key sectors of Myanma economy become a matter of concern for the United States. Therefore, it is true that the United States was compelled to find a way to change their approach and policy. In the mean time, grandiloquent terms such as human rights, democracy etc. will remain popular due to the fact that circumstances now favour the United States with the emergence of NLD headed by Daw Suu Kyi in its efforts to gain a foothold in Myanmar since the beginning of the 20th century.
The economic sanctions will not be end over night. The most important American way of thinking is prioritizing their national interest. The procedures such as democracy, human rights, election etc. are merely instruments used for justification of a particular person or certain policies. In other words, it is just a mechanism to support the survival, popularity and prosperity of Daw Suu Kyi cum NLD. Therefore, it is very difficult to differentiate between the interest of the United States and that of NLD which is demanding Democracy. While implementing its interests, NLD is unable to apply the methods aspired by the United States. That is the root cause of the current tension between NLD and the United States. During the Bush administration, they mostly echoed the voice of Myanma Democracy opposition groups. It is found that they also failed to search for ways and means to counter Russia and China which have influence on Myanmar other than exerting to topple the Military Government. In contrast, Obama Administration does not solely focus on the said modus operendi . He is supposed to believe that it is one of the methods among others. Therefore, it is sure that he will be looking for the other useful ways and means.
When Mr. Jim Webb had a meeting with Daw Suu Kyi, he said that the extensive range of Chinese influence over Myanmar is a matter of US serious concern. Most of the political analysts believe that it is absolutely true. In other word, it is the first time that a senior US official informed Myanmar opposition leader of their interests. However, Daw Suu Kyi surprised her supporters from the United States and western countries by rejecting what M. Jim Webb' had told her. Daw Suu Kyi not only opposed it but also believed that it is just an excessive concern over trivial things. We can deduce from this point that there exists disagreement between the United States and Daw Suu Kyi ( NLD ). The NLD might think themselves that her response is appropriate. However, Myanma Democracy supporters believed that she made one more mistake to this end.
The NLD opposition might not accept the fact that generating conflicts between China and Myanmar Military Government may be antithetical to the interest of Myanmar people. China will only be anxious about its interests. There are some critism that undermining the Chinese interests in Myanmar and their investments means making their own power decreased for NLD . The NLD made fun of the Chinese policy due to the lengthy detention of Daw Suu Kyi. It is not an accident that such slanderous attacks on Chinese policy serve the interest of the United States.
Following his meeting with Daw Suu Kyi, Mr. Jim Webb made a press conference in Thailand. May be he is optimistic, he said that Daw Suu Kyi seemed to be in a position to agree with him on the topic of sanction. However, sanction is the important weapon for Daw Suu Kyi and NLD. Thus, Jim Webb's description came as a terrible shock to the NLD community. In fact, it is said in the NLD community that when it comes to sanction, Daw Suu Kyi used ambiguous words and her usage was unclear. Some said that Daw Suu Kyi still firmly stands on her policy toward sanction and it remains unchanged. NLD community said that without receving overture first from Military Government, they will not be able to address the issue of sanction. In other word, the opposition groups believe that only when progress is made in reconciliation, will they give up the issue of sanction inevitably. The NLD is supposed to believe that until and unless their victory could be ensured, they will continue to practice the existing policy of sanction. The NLD followers' way of thinking is exactly the same with that of Daw Suu Kyi. The NLD followers said that since they have already made a huge investment in the path of sanction, it is impossible to change their stance and they will therefore continue to hold on to that policy. At the same time, the United States seems to presume that the NLD is moving toward the existing path which is unsuccessful.
It is questionable that standing firmly on and speaking sternly about the policy of sanction by NLD while asking Democracy in order to bring Myanmar issue to an end is whether for the sake of attaining power or for the betterment of the people.
Poverty, hardship and sanction which always hinder development are unnecessary things for the interest of the entire Myanmar people,. It is questionable that sticking to the way of sanction is really for the interest of the people. It will be very difficult to justify that holding on dogmatically to the policy of sanction does not aim toward collapsing the government or taking power. However, can they really come into power in this way?
Therefore, it is found that the United States has a series of serious concerns in Myanma issue and they feel uncertain about whether it can serve their interest and aspiration or not.
