Obama's Human Rights record

Not so great. Much worse than Bush's--actually, not even close. He at least freed all those second class citizens, aka women.

Bret Stephens examines Obama's Human Rights record.

China: no pressing whatsoever on human rights
Sudan: "incentives and disincentives" for the genocidal Sudanese government of Omar Bashir
Iran: denied funding for a human-rights group working the Iran beat to appease Tehran
Burma: where 150,000 died of starvation in plain view being denied humanitarian aid, Obama is going to change to constructive engagement
Tibet: ignore the Dalai Lama and concede to China with constructive engagement (see Burma)

Why call it Burma?

According to the State Department, the official name of the country hit by a disastrous cyclone last week is "Burma."

The Union of Burma (or Myanmar as it is called by the ruling junta) consists of 14 states and divisions. Administrative control is exercised from the central government through a system of subordinate executive bodies and regional military commanders.

Power is centered on the ruling junta--the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC--which maintains strict authoritarian rule over the people of Burma. The Prime Minister is appointed directly by the SPDC. Control is maintained through intimidation, the strict censuring of information, repression of individual rights, and suppression of ethnic minority groups.

The SPDC continues its harsh rule and systematic human rights abuses today, and insists that any future political transition be negotiated on its terms. It proclaimed a seven-step roadmap to democracy beginning with a National Convention process, purportedly to develop a new constitution and pave the way for national elections. However the regime restricts public input and debate and handpicks the delegates, effectively excluding pro-democracy supporters.

Although the SPDC changed the name of the country to "Myanmar," the democratically elected but never convened Parliament of 1990 does not recognize the name change, and the democratic opposition continues to use the name "Burma." Due to consistent support for the democratically elected leaders, the U.S. Government likewise uses "Burma."

So there you have it. The liberals will call this junta run, unrecognized, rogue government Myanmar, and the conservatives will call it Burma. Regardless of what you call them, the Burmans, Shans, Karens, Rohingya, Arakanese, Kachins, Chins, Mons, non-indigenous Indians and Chinese, and many smaller indigenous ethnic groups are dying by the thousands because of the inaction of their government.

Update about that cyclone: "Citing the deadly Burmese storm and recent storms in China and Bangladesh, [Al Gore] declared on National Public Radio: "We're seeing consequences that scientists have long predicted might be associated with continued global warming." There's just one problem -- it's not clear there's any link between climate change and hurricane numbers or intensity. The number of big storms has been falling, not rising." Best of the Web, Joseph Sternberg, May 12