David Cameron calls for Burma sanctions to be suspended

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

David Cameron has said economic sanctions against Burma should be suspended in recognition of the changes taking place in the country.

The prime minister spoke after a meeting with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon.

Ms Suu Kyi welcomed his call and said the suspension of sanctions would "strengthen the hand of the reformers".

Mr Cameron is the first Western leader to visit Burma since her success in a series of parliamentary by-elections

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17698526

[OnlinePoker]

1. The country's name is Myanmar

Just because BBC doesn't like it doesn't make it right that they use a colonial name.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Opposition groups prefer 'Burma'; the junta introduced Myanmar in 1989

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/12/02/143049567/why-burma-why-myanmar-why-both

When Aung Sang Suu Kyi or someone similar asks for it to be called Myanmar, it'll be time to change it.

[grantcart]

3. Actually the country's name in its own language is Myanma.

Burma was the accepted English form of the language.

Having different official English and native names for the country is quite common.

Neighboring 'Thailand' is an example as 'land' is obviously not a Thai word (PratheetThai is the official Thai name for the country).

Many news organizations and goverments continue to use 'Burma' as a means to show that they do not support the tyrannical military regime that made the change;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Burma

The United Nations, of which Myanmar is a member, endorsed the name change five days after its announcement.[8] However, governments of many English speaking countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada still refer to the country as "Burma".[9] The United States government attributes its choice to support for the party deemed to have won the 1990 election, but been denied power by the junta. That party opposes the new name.

. . .

It should be remembered that the regime did not change the official name of the country in Burmese, but merely changed the name of the country in English. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at first opposed the new name "Myanmar", pointing out the hypocritical justification of inclusiveness put forward by the regime. Opposition parties, although they oppose the English name "Myanmar", do not oppose the official Burmese name Myanma, and no opposition party is proposing to use the colloquial name Bama as the official name of the country.

When Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi requests that we change the name then I will change.

BTW the official English term for the people of Burma is still "Burmese".

[grantcart]

4. all great news from Burma.

[nanabugg]

5. Yeah, when Cuba sanctions are lifted. nt