It was only a few years ago the Bush administration labeled Myanmar “an outpost of tyranny.” But on Wednesday, Hillary Clinton became the first secretary of state to visit the repressive and isolated nation in 50 years. The Obama administration has been keen on engaging with the military-backed civilian government of Myanmar after the country made some significant democratic reforms. In the past year, elections were held for a nominally civilian government, and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest after two decades. Yet even as changes take hold in Rangoon, persecution against the country’s ethnic minorities continue. Kim Ghattas, State Department correspondent for the BBC, reports on the latest from Naypidaw, Myanmar’s administrative capital. Suzanne DiMaggio, vice president of Global Policy Programs at the Asia Society, discusses the policy and strategic implications of the visit. Myra Dahgaypaw, a Burmese refugee and currently the campaign coordinator for the U.S. Campaign for Burma, details the persecution of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities at the hand of the government.
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