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Obama Becomes First U.S. President to Visit Myanmar, Extends ‘Hand of Friendship’

Nov. 18, 2012 10:32pm Erica Ritz

(TheBlaze/AP) — En route to a historic visit to long shunned Myanmar, President Barack Obama says he comes to “extend the hand of friendship” to a nation moving from persecution to peace. But the praise and personal attention come with an admonition from Obama: The work of democracy has just begun.

“Instead of being repressed, the right of people to assemble together must now be fully respected,” Obama said in speech excerpts released ahead of his arrival Monday. “Instead of being stifled, the veil of media censorship must continue to be lifted. As you take these steps, you can draw on your progress.”

Obama is the first U.S. president to go to Myanmar, also known as Burma. He was flying from Thailand on Monday morning, local time, for a visit that would last just six hours but carries significant symbolism. It is the result of a remarkable turnaround in the countries’ relationship.

Obama Becomes First U.S. President to Visit Myanmar, Extends Hand of Friendship

A Burmese monk walks by a shop hanging flags and T shirts as Yangon gets prepared for the first visit of President Barack Obama November 18, 2012 in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo: Getty Images)

Obama has rewarded Myanmar’s rapid adoption of democratic reforms by lifting some economic penalties. The president has appointed a permanent ambassador to the country, and pledged greater investment if Myanmar continues to progress following a half-century of military rule.

In his speech, to be delivered at Rangoon University, Obama recalls a promise he made upon taking office – that the United States would extend a hand if those nations that ruled in fear unclenched their fists.

“Today, I have come to keep my promise, and extend the hand of friendship,” he said. “The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished. They must become a shining North Star for all this nation’s people.”

Some human rights groups say Myanmar’s government, which continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners and is struggling to contain ethnic violence, hasn’t done enough to earn a personal visit from Obama. The president said from Thailand on Sunday that his visit is not an endorsement of the government in Myanmar, but an acknowledgment that dramatic progress is underway and it deserves a global spotlight.

The president’s Asia tour also marks his formal return to the world stage after months mired in a bruising re-election campaign. For his first postelection trip, he tellingly settled on Asia, a region he has deemed the region as crucial to U.S. prosperity and security.

US President Barack Obama (C) and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (2nd L) review an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at Government House in Bangkok on November 18, 2012.

Aides say Asia will factor heavily in Obama’s second term as the U.S. seeks to expand its influence in an attempt to counter China.

China’s rise is also at play in Myanmar, which long has aligned itself with Beijing. But some in Myanmar fear that China is taking advantage of its wealth of natural resources, so the country is looking for other partners to help build its nascent economy.

Obama plans to meet separately with Prime Minister Thein Sein, who has orchestrated much of his country’s recent reforms. He will also meet with longtime Myanmar democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in the home where she spent years under house arrest.

The White House says Obama will express his concern for the ongoing ethnic tensions in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state, where more than 110,000 people – the vast majority of them Muslims known as Rohingya – have been displaced.

Burmese work to silk screen more Obama T shirts at a local shop as Yangon gets prepared for the first visit of President Barack Obama November 18, 2012 in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photo: Getty Images)

The U.N. has called the Rohingya – who are widely reviled by the Buddhist majority in Myanmar – among the world’s most persecuted people.

The White House says Obama will press the matter Monday with Thein Sein, along with demands to free remaining political prisoners as the nation transitions to democracy.

The president will cap his trip to Myanmar with a speech at Rangoon University, the center of the country’s struggle for independence against Britain and the launching point for many pro-democracy protests. The former military junta shut the dormitories in the 1990s fearing further unrest and forced most students to attend classes on satellite campuses on the outskirts of town.

–

Associated Press writer Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this report.

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Comments (82)

oxycontinxx
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 4:46am
burma………………BS !!!!!!

obammy really ought to visit israel and assure them that the full force and might of the USA is behind them.

burma……………where is that????

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- chips1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:13am
  Make a right until you smell it, then left till you step in it.
  
  Report this comment
- azcowboy1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:21am
  He’s just trying to hide from the Libia trials
  
  Report this comment
- Thatsitivehadenough
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:26am
  Blah, blah, blah. Obama is over there getting ideas for genocide in the USA. Someone even did a study on how the soil where there has been a genocide is more fertile. Don’t believe me? Google it.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:26am
  One dictator to another….they got to stick together.
  
  Report this comment
truthsurfer
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 4:40am
I see the muslim in chief is out on another ass kissing tour/ Thank god he is not here in the US focusing on jobs or the debt crisses or we would be losing an extraa 80k jobs and spending aanother 20 billion a day on union kickbacks. The more we can keep this muslim terrorist off US soil for the next 4 years the better off we will be.

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- sheik
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:20am
  Not ass-kissing tour: the Obamster is trying to coerce the Burmese to make room for the Islamic invasion.
  
  Who needs Buddhism when you got Islam to replace it and the whole world belongs to allah?
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:18am
  Did Obama pay the two guys and the girl 3 cents a day to make his shirts? Is it enough to pay for their Obamacare?
  
  Report this comment
mbean
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:47am
And his number one priority is….. Huh?

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semihardrock
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:58am
They want EVERY COUNTRY on the planet to accept our US Dollar “donations” aka World Currency…

NOW they need that Global Warming….no….Climate Change to kick in so we can kick start getting all that money flowing back to US after being such a generous country all these years….

The never ending Crap Game will begin….which is ALWAYS stacked in the house favor…

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nesmond
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:30am
John Rambo needs to get back to Burma real quick. Another oppressor has recently arrived and he needs to be dealt with.

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- Gorp
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:58am
  When I think of Burma I think of Burma Shave and Anthony Hopkins in “The Worlds Fastest Indian”.
  
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- chips1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:21am
  Around the corner
  Lickety split
  That was a nice car
  Wasn’t it?
  
  BURMA SHAVE
  
  Report this comment
kryptonite
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:04am
Barck visits a commie country to let them know he’s proud of them, except for the way they treat the slimes. Yawn.

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supergirl79
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:46am
When I think of Burma, I think of the last Rambo movie…A country that brutally murders their own people. Have they really changed so much in the past 4 years that we can now be friends with them? Is this what we can look forward to in our country in the near future? This president never ceases to amaze me! And just to be clear, NOT in a good way! 1/20/2017 cannot come soon enough!

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:45am
  WE THE PEOPLE missed our chance in 2008, and while we thought we had a chance this year in 2012, we did not. Why? Because most REAL AMERICANS still play by the rules. satan does not, nor has he ever. this administration – top to bottom, inside, out – is/are under his control.
  
  Our ONLY chance is for everyone to turn our lives over to GOD and to follow HIS instructions and HIS will, not our own. This is extraordinarily hard to do, but it can be done. Are there enough of us to do this???
  
  The cost of DISCIPLESHIP is high. Are we willing to pay it, to live it, to believe and to trust in GOD 24/7/365? In a heartbeat, y’all. Nothing else, no-thing else will do.
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 10:54am
  Kickagrandma has lost it, senility has finally settled in. Obama is not satan or his pawn, turning your life over to some sky deity is not going to change American politics.
  
  Do you really believe that Christ, who ministered to the poor and preached peace would support the war mongers and money changers who make up the Tea Party/GOP. This religious drivel has clouded your judgment and prevented the Tea PArty from having any rational thoughts.
  
  Report this comment
- Hoat
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:28pm
  The city I live in has the largest population of Burmese outside of Burma. They are good, kind, and caring people who have lived under an oppressive, communist government, and want to live in peace with freedom. President Obama seems to want to be seen supporting Myanmar (formerly Burma) as, what I believe, is an attempt to manipulate China in some way. I don’t claim to know what Obama’s doing; but I don’t trust him.
  
  Report this comment
- scrudge
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:59pm
  don’t hold your breath….. there won’t be a 2017…. call me and I will explain
  
  Report this comment
cosmic dogma
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:41am
How long do you give them before the muslim brotherhood takes over? They seem to march right behind obama.

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possom
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:15am
Maybe they’ll keep him? We can only hope.

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bekhiet
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:02am
I guess he realized the extreme wealth in this country, so he is paying a visit to his muslim buddies. Never mind what is happening to Israel, Obama will just hang out in the luxuries of Myanmar.

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- HMWastedDays
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:15am
  Myanmar is an overwhelmingly Buddhist nation, not Muslim. Muslims make up about 4% of Myanmar’s population, same with Christians. Buddhist’s make up about 89% of the population.
  
  Report this comment
- booger71
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:56am
  HMWastedDays
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:15am
  
  Myanmar is an overwhelmingly Buddhist nation, not Muslim. Muslims make up about 4% of Myanmar’s population, same with Christians. Buddhist’s make up about 89% of the population.
  =====================
  And Lebanon used to be 80% Christian 50 years ago.
  
  Report this comment
- HMWastedDays
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 9:31am
  I was just responding to Bekhiet’s assumption that Obama is meeting with Muslims. With Myanmar’s population being 89% Buddhist there is no reason to believe he is meeting with Muslims. In fact, the President and both Vice Presidents of Myanmar are Buddhist. According to this BBC article, Muslims are hated by the government and people. So to assume that Obama is “paying a visit to his Muslim buddies” is wrong. He’s meeting with the Myanmar Buddhist government, not Muslims.
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7872635.stm
  
  Report this comment
vic138
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:59pm
I bet Obama stays at the Strand and has a drink at the great bar there, the best in indo-china since the 1920s. All the hollywood moguls have done it, I’m sure he’s been dying to hang out there. F the monks and aung san su kyi…

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SilentReader
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:50pm
You can tell where his allegiance lies. And it’s not with America. While people are getting laid off and he’s planning his fundamental transformation of America into a fascist state where he’s preparing to set his just as powerful just as well-funded Civilian Army on the Patriots he’s flitting around the world touting “democracy.” So big of him.

Too bad the Emperor has no clothes.

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- bekhiet
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:03am
  I feel exactly the same way.
  
  Report this comment
- GO-FOR-LIBERTY
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:39am
  But we do have that “veil of media censorship”. Works here~~No?/s
  
  Report this comment
pwatkins
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:44pm
Do all of those poor oppressed Muslims in Burma know he is the first gay president?……..doubtful. Maybe the shady character in California should make a video telling them he is and put it on you-tube and see if they pick up on it. Then if all h^ll breaks loose over there when he leaves he will have something to blame it on. Of course we know that would never be the excuse Obama would use. It would then be the extreme Buddhists that caused it, not a video the Muslims saw. They are the religion of peace and we should all know that by now. All they want is democracy……yeah right..

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neverending
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:35pm
Can we please arrange for the sorry sob to stay there permanently?

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- chips1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:11am
  Obama extended his hand of friendship and I noticed the poor guys watch was missing. If the vail of censorship is lifted, will their radios now broadcast Mark Levin, Rush , Hannity and Cousin Brucie?
  
  Report this comment
Zeke48
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:24pm
Add your comments

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Zeke48
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:20pm
He thinks he is hot stuff. let’s what he has to offer them of our tax money. Anything for everybody with our dollars. What a fake.

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denkat56
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:07pm
I’m surprised king Obama didn’t apologize for something that all of America didn’t do. Maybe axelrod will come up with something.

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:06pm
““Today, I have come to keep my promise, and extend the hand of friendship,” he said.”
======================================================
Oh, sure, keep your promises to other countries, but break almost ALL of your promises to your voters.
I’m not your voter, but I think you feel a greater allegiance to countries that are more like Indonesia, than to the USA. Ahhh. More than likely, you are just lying to them, too.

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IndyGuy
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:00pm
Dude in the first pic is an Obama Zombie…

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Witness1974
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:59pm
Myanmar is one of the worst persecutors of Christians on the globe–Nice we can be “friends”.

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- christhefanatic
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:12pm
  Upside…If the U.S. becomes your ally your days are numbered.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:32pm
  This is BIZARRE!!! And it’s proof that Obama is barking mad.
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:52pm
Hey, Obama, extend your hand to the one that’s on fire!

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dealer@678
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:45pm
Could the Anti Christ actually come from America. Those pictures above are spooky

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- oldguy49
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:51pm
  yep …..he wants to be bud’s with all the mussie nations ……… another arab spring ???
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:59pm
  Obamas past is a mystery . Not sure if he is from America..that birth certificate was a phony just to appease the followers of Obama. He has the spirit of the anti-christ as do most who voted for him.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:34pm
  There are many anti-Christs in the world.
  
  Report this comment
John 1776
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:43pm
“Instead of being stifled, the veil of media censorship must continue to be lifted.”
That is funny, coming from BO! I thought he didn’t like Fox news?

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dealer@678
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:41pm
Why is he there. Are’nt their enough weak minded people in America that call him Lord

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banjarmon
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:41pm
Keep BHO there and use him for lizard food….MY BAD …that might make the lizards sick!!

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- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:55pm
  But he wouldn’t visit Isreal in the last 4 years huh? He’s attempting to indoctrinate impressionable minds in Burma. Lots of muslims there too, his buds.
  
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- neverending
  Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:37pm
  Yeah use him for lizard food before he eats their dogs.
  
  Report this comment

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