Sanctions easing against Myanmar, but should they?

In recent months, the West has been responsive to discussions with the government in Myanmar to open up the relationships. In return for ending sanctions, Myanmar allowed elections and have freed some (not all) of the political prisoners. With each step, Western governments have made moves to normalize the relationships including steps leading to aid agreements and eventually trade agreements.

One of the opposition groups in Myanmar is pushing back, arguing that these rapid changes are sending the "wrong signal" to the government since so many more political prisoners remain and the war against ethic groups continues. They're not wrong with this argument, though without some links into the previously secretive and closed government, the West has almost no leverage with the government.

If you look at countries like Iran and Syria, the US faces challenges in pushing the local governments since there are so few links. The reasons behind the lack of links is understandable, but without any leverage, is being completely cut off really in the best interest of the West or the local opposition groups? More on the evolving links between the West and Myanmar at Al Jazeera.

North Korean rocket launch fails

It did launch, though the rocket broke into pieces shortly after launch. Maybe the west was trying to help the new leader avoid embarrassment when they begged him not to fire the rocket, which violated UN resolutions. The Guardian:

A much-heralded test of North Korea's rocket technology has ended in failure and embarrassment for the regime in Pyongyang less than two minutes after lift-off.

The Unha-3 rocket, which Washington claimed was cover for a ballistic missile test and drew condemnation from around the world, exploded into about 20 pieces fell into the Yellow Sea.

The North Koreans ignored eleventh-hour pleas from the US, South Korea and Japan not to go through with the launch, insisting its sole purpose was to put an earth observation satellite into orbit.

US Coast Guard sinks Japanese ghost ship

The boat was swept out to sea during the tsunami last year and had been approaching the west coast of North America. There was no way an unmarked ship drifting into a busy shipping area was going to continue. MSNBC:

The Coast Guard says the fishing vessel set adrift by the tsunami in Japan has sunk in the Gulf of Alaska after a cutter fired at it.

Petty Officer David Moseley told msnbc.com that the vessel caught fire and took on water after the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa fired its 25mm cannon at the derelict ship on Thursday, aiming to sink what it called a threat to shipping.

Citing a Coast Guard spokesman, the Associated Press reported the firing began after a brief delay caused by a Canadian ship that wanted to salvage the Ryou-un Maru -- but then quickly found it it wasn't able to tow it back to shore.

US to ease sanctions against Myanmar

There are certainly plenty of positive signs from the Myanmar government that can justify this action. Whether it will continue is another story. BBC News:

The United States has announced that it will ease some sanctions against Burma.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said some travel and financial restrictions would be relaxed, with Burmese leaders allowed to visit the US.

European Union leaders had said earlier on Wednesday that they may lift some sanctions.

Suu Kyi's party wins 43 of 44 seats in Myanmar elections

Keep in mind that she has won before, so it doesn't necessarily mean anything yet. It's a positive sign that the military junta even allowed elections (again) and that people were able to get out and vote but this is still going to be an uphill struggle to make it translate into actual reform. The Guardian:

Speaking to thousands of red-clad supporters outside the headquarters of her opposition party, the National League for Democracy' (NLD), the Nobel laureate called the election "a triumph of the people" and said: "We hope this will be the beginning of a new era."

Traffic slowed to a crawl as throngs of people, many of them waving flags and clutching red and white roses, spilled into the street to cheer, clap and call out "Amay Suu" (Mother Suu) as her motorcade arrived. At least one person was trampled underfoot when bodyguards pushed back the crowds and people swarmed to the car to see the woman who spent almost 22 years under house arrest and who many hope will create a new future for Burma's 60 million people.

Aung San Suu Kyi spoke briefly in both Burmese and English to loud applause and cheers from the crowd.

Myanmar voting today

It's been a long time coming and the process has not been clean, but it's a start. NY Times:

For the first time in two decades, voters in 45 districts across Myanmar had the chance to vote for the party of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a milestone after years of military rule and brutality.

From a strictly numerical standpoint, the election itself will not affect the balance of power in Myanmar, as less than 10 percent of seats in Parliament were in play.

But voters described it as a joyous day, another step toward democracy as the country undergoes radical changes under President Thein Sein, the former general who has led the country for the last year and is encouraging reconciliation with Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.

Early reports are positive for Suu Kyi, who appears to have one a seat in parliament.

Japanese boat lost from tsunami nearing North America

In the coming months, we're likely to see a lot more of this reach the west coast of North America. CNN:

A fishing trawler swept away more than a year ago by a tsunami off the east coast of Japan has been spotted floating near British Columbia, Canadian officials said Friday.

"It looks fairly sound and has rust streak from being out there for a year," said Marc Proulx, the maritime coordinator of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, British Columbia.

The trawler is part of a giant debris field that was generated by the giant wall of water that struck the east coast of the island nation following a 9.0 earthquake, sweeping everything from cars to houses into the ocean.