Myanmar Struggles Toward Democracy

Re “Activist Hails ‘New Dawn’ in Myanmar,” May 7: The release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest is wonderful news for democracy, and the United States should immediately reciprocate by ending its economic sanctions against Burma. The sanctions hurt mainly the general populace instead of the intended target: members of the ruling regime.

Sanctions deprive the Burmese people of a chance to learn Western technology and Western sociopolitical ideas like democracy. Of course, sanctions wreak havoc on the economy. Burma was once a net exporter of food, but today it is a net importer. Most of the populace lives in poverty and squalor. Nonetheless, you can be sure that the children of the ruling elite live well.

Ironically, the Chinese government has treated its dissidents far worse than the Burmese government, yet the U.S. has expanded its economic relationship with Beijing. Key American politicians, like the late Richard Nixon, have noted that political engagement and economic prosperity foster the development of democracy. On these grounds, the American government granted China permanent, normal trade relations. The Burmese people deserve no less.

Dwight Sunada

Stanford, Calif.

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I’m baffled by The Times’ Orwellian terminology in describing the release of Burmese Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi, in your May 6 and 7 headlines respectively, as a “dissident” and an “activist.” A much less misleading representation of her would be as “Burma’s democratically, overwhelmingly elected president, released by a tyrannical military regime recognized, mostly, by a few greedy oil companies.”

Shelley Martin

San Pedro