Drop Sanctions on Burma

"Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn't influenced the Burmese junta," she said, adding that the route taken by Burma's neighbors of "reaching out and trying to engage them has not influenced them, either." Clinton stated in Indonesia.

It is about time to do away with these stupid sanctions on Burma. They have done nothing but pushed the Burmese into the arms of China and strengthened the control of people who want to only rape and pillage the resources of Myanmar.

I couldn't believe it when I learned after the Saffron Revolution in 2007 that Burmese gems were not under the sanctions (now they are).

Also I remember in 2001 when a lot of college students were protesting against some businesses (Marriott International being one of them) who were still doing business in Burma despite the sanctions.

I can relate first hand what happened to the hotel that Marriott left. I worked in the hotel in 2000-2001. At the time the hotel was a five star property, the staff were paid relatively well and there were a lot of staff. They were proud of their hotel and their work.

I came back to do a consultant job for the same hotel in 2006. The hotel was now being run by a Thai management company. There had been several food sanitation issues, which was why I was called in. The hotel was dirty, staff were so tired and overworked they walked around like zombies. Talking to tour agents, the hotel is now considered to be a two or three star hotel. The staff are depressed, they know what the hotel should be like.

Part of the problem is that there are no tourists. Since the Saffron Revolution there have been even less. Granted there is also problems with tourists, especially the large package tour groups that come rushing through, stopping in Bagan, Ngapali and Inle Lake. What Burma/Myanmar needs is more individual tourists who want to go to Burma/Myanmar to meet the people, to learn something new, experience a whole different world.

The large money oriented business of the package tours, keeps the tourists in a fish bowl as they view Burma and the money from these groups usually only ends up in a few people's pockets.

The hotels that I worked for in Burma were connected to the government, but they never made a cent of profit and actually are giving good jobs to a quite a lot of staff, indirectly supporting large extended families.

I hope to see the sanctions dropped soon, but I also hope that some care is done with how that happens so the traditional ways of Burma are not completely destroyed as well.