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Obama Begins Asian Swing With Gaza Fighting in Mind Obama Begins Asian Trip With Gaza Fighting in Mind
(about 1 hour later)
BANGKOK — President Obama on Sunday opened a three-country postelection swing through Southeast Asia designed to highlight the growing importance of the region for American foreign policy, even as he remained partly focused on the fighting in the Middle East. BANGKOK — President Obama opened a three-country postelection swing through Southeast Asia on Sunday that is designed to highlight the growing importance of the region for American foreign policy, even as he closely monitored the fighting in the Middle East.
Mr. Obama landed here in Thailand to bolster a longtime ally and demonstrate that the United States will draw together China’s neighbors in a web of partnerships. Mr. Obama landed here in Thailand to bolster a longtime ally and demonstrate that the United States will draw China’s neighbors into a web of partnerships.
But as the death toll in the Gaza Strip and Israel worsened on Sunday, factoring into the president’s speeches, it underscored the challenges in reorienting the United States away from the historic headaches of the Middle East more toward the emerging Asia-Pacific region. As Mr. Obama has discovered on more than one overseas journey, the best-laid plans for building progress around the world are often upended by newfound turmoil in the region that has dominated American attention for more than a decade. But as the death toll in Gaza and Israel worsened on Sunday — and factored into the president’s speeches — the violence underscored the challenges he faces in reorienting the United States away from the historic headaches of the Middle East toward the emerging Asia-Pacific region. As Mr. Obama has discovered on more than one overseas journey, the best-laid plans for progress around the world are often upended by new turmoil in the region that has dominated American attention for decades.
Speaking with reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr. Obama said he was working to ease the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but he defended Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Speaking with reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand, Mr. Obama said he was working to ease the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but he defended Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
“There’s no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” Mr. Obama said. “We are fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself.”“There’s no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” Mr. Obama said. “We are fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Mr. Obama landed here in midafternoon and headed immediately from the airport to the Wat Pho Royal Monastery, one of the country’s most revered cultural outposts, where he and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton inspected the famed giant reclining Buddha. Mr. Obama landed here in midafternoon and headed immediately to the Wat Pho Royal Monastery, one of the country’s most revered cultural outposts, where he and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton inspected the famed giant reclining Buddha.
Even domestic issues followed him, as he found himself talking about the so-called fiscal cliff back home with a Buddhist monk whom he asked to pray for a resolution. “If a Buddhist monk is wishing me well, I’m going to take whatever good vibes he’s giving me,” Mr. Obama said later. Even domestic issues followed the president, as he found himself talking about the so-called fiscal cliff back home with a Buddhist monk whom he asked to pray for a resolution. “If a Buddhist monk is wishing me well, I’m going to take whatever good vibes he’s giving me,” Mr. Obama said.
From there, Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, making their last official trip abroad together, headed to Siriraj Hospital, to pay respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 84-year-old Massachusetts-born monarch who has been ailing. They then went to the Government House for meetings and dinner with Ms. Yingluck, the prime minister who came to office last year five years after her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was deposed in a military coup. From there, the president and Mrs. Clinton, making their last official trip abroad together, headed to Siriraj Hospital to pay respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 84-year-old Massachusetts-born monarch who has been ailing. They then went to the Government House for meetings and dinner with Ms. Yingluck, who came to office in 2011, five years after her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was deposed in a military coup.
Mr. Obama planned to leave Monday morning for Myanmar, where he will stay on the ground for about six hours, and then fly on to Cambodia, where he will participate in meetings with leaders from across the region. He will be the first sitting American president to visit either country. Mr. Obama planned to leave on Monday morning for Myanmar, which he will visit for about six hours before flying to Cambodia to participate in meetings with leaders from across the region. He will be the first sitting American president to visit either country.
He defended his decision to visit Myanmar against criticism from human rights activists who consider it premature. Under President Thein Sein, the country has begun releasing political prisoners and easing restrictions on the media. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel winning opposition leader, has been freed from house arrest and allowed to run and win a seat in parliament. But more than 200 political prisoners remain in custody and the government continues to wage a brutal campaign against insurgents in Kachin State. The government has also been accused of not doing enough to stop, and even tacitly encouraging, the outbreak of ethnic violence against Muslims in Rakhine State. He defended his decision to visit Myanmar against criticism from human rights activists who consider it premature. Under President Thein Sein, the country — which is also known as Burma — has begun releasing political prisoners and easing restrictions on the news media. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has been freed from house arrest and allowed to run and win a seat in Parliament. But more than 200 political prisoners remain in custody, and the government continues to wage a brutal campaign against insurgents in Kachin State. The government has also been accused of not doing enough to stop, and of even tacitly encouraging, the outbreak of violence against Muslims in Rakhine State.
Human Rights Watch on Sunday said satellite imagery showed extensive destruction of homes in Rohingya Muslim areas after a wave of violence and arson in October that it said was carried out with the support of state security forces and local government officials. Human Rights Watch said Sunday that satellite imagery showed extensive destruction of homes in an area where Rohingya Muslims, an ethnic group, live. The rights group said a wave of violence and arson in the region last month was carried out with the support of state security forces and local government officials.
Mr. Obama praised the government’s reforms while saying more work needed to be done. “This is not an endorsement of the Burmese government,” he said. “This is an acknowledgment that there is a process under way inside that country that even a year and a half, two years ago, nobody foresaw.” Mr. Obama praised the government’s reforms while saying that more work needed to be done. “This is not an endorsement of the Burmese government,” he said. “This is an acknowledgment that there is a process under way inside that country that even a year and a half, two years ago, nobody foresaw.”
He added: “I don’t think anybody’s under any illusion that Burma’s arrived, that they’re where they need to be. On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we’d be waiting an awful long time.”He added: “I don’t think anybody’s under any illusion that Burma’s arrived, that they’re where they need to be. On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we’d be waiting an awful long time.”
State television in Yangon reported that Mr. Thein Sein had ordered the release of 66 prisoners in advance of Mr. Obama’s arrival, but it was not immediately clear whether any were political prisoners, The Associated Press reported. A similar released of more than 450 prisoners late last week disappointed human rights activists because they were almost entirely common criminals rather than those locked up for political activities. State television in Yangon reported that Mr. Thein Sein had ordered the release of 66 prisoners in advance of Mr. Obama’s arrival, but it was not immediately clear whether any of them were political prisoners, The Associated Press reported. A similar release of more than 450 prisoners late last week disappointed human rights activists because almost all of those freed were petty criminals rather than those locked up for political activities.
Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Thein Sein and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi during his brief stop in Yangon, then give a speech at the University of Yangon defining his hopes for the nation. Mr. Obama has already sent the first American ambassador to Myanmar in 22 years and eased sanctions. Aides hinted at further incentives. Benjamin J. Rhodes, the president’s deputy national security adviser, said Mr. Obama would be “addressing our assistance relationship.” Mr. Obama will meet with Mr. Thein Sein and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi during his brief stop in Yangon, then give a speech at the University of Yangon defining his hopes for the nation. Mr. Obama has already sent the first American ambassador in 22 years to Myanmar and eased sanctions, and aides hinted at further incentives. Benjamin J. Rhodes, the president’s deputy national security adviser, said Mr. Obama would be “addressing our assistance relationship.”
His last stop in Cambodia offers a challenge of its own. Unlike Myanmar’s leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, has ruled for more than a quarter century with little indication of easing a system that has crushed dissent. Mr. Obama is visiting Phnom Penh not to visit with him but to attend meetings with a variety of regional leaders. His last stop in Cambodia offers a challenge of its own. Unlike Myanmar’s leadership, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge commander, has ruled for more than a quarter-century with little indication of easing a system that has crushed dissent. Mr. Obama will be in Phnom Penh not to visit the prime minister but to attend meetings with regional leaders.
Even here in Thailand, considered the most modern and sophisticated of the three countries Mr. Obama is visiting, the state of the country’s political system has been precarious, particularly since the ouster of the prime minister’s brother. Human rights groups cite security force abuses, restrictions on free speech and the failure to protect a large population of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers. Even here in Thailand, considered the most modern and sophisticated of the three countries on Mr. Obama’s tour, the political system is precarious, particularly since the ouster of the prime minister’s brother. Human rights groups cite abuses by security forces, restrictions on free speech and the failure to protect a large population of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers.
Mr. Obama made no mention of that in his opening remarks to reporters and addressed it only when a Thai reporter asked about problems with freedom in his country. The president offered no criticism of his host. Mr. Obama made no mention of those concerns in his opening remarks and addressed them only when a Thai reporter asked about problems with freedom in his country. The president offered no criticism of his host.
“Democracy is not something that is static,” he said. “It’s something that we constantly have to work on.”“Democracy is not something that is static,” he said. “It’s something that we constantly have to work on.”