US diplomat says engagement won’t replace sanctions against Myanmar’s government

US: Engagement won’t replace sanctions in Myanmar

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will not ease harsh sanctions against military-run Myanmar (mee-an-MAWR’) even as it pursues a new policy of dialogue with the Southeast Asian nation’s ruling generals.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell says lifting sanctions without democratic progress in Myanmar “would be a mistake.”

Democratic Sen. Jim Webb said Wednesday at a hearing of the Senate Asia subcommittee he chairs that U.S. isolation of Myanmar has hurt America’s ability to “push for positive change.”

Webb recently made a rare visit to Myanmar, which also is called Burma.

A group of Buddhist monks gathered in the Senate hearing room in a show of protest against Webb’s Myanmar policy proposals.