US Senator John McCain said he expects that in the coming weeks the Burmese government will allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to return to Burma and grant the organization access to prisoners. ICRC's access to prisoners is the first step in re-establishing US-Burma relations. The ICRC has been unable to visit inmates since the former military junta halted access in 2006. ICRC provided 50 % of the health care and treatment to prisoners across the country before it was suspended by the authorities.
"One critical step is the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience. Respected international institutions and human rights organizations, including groups in the country, estimate that more than 2,000 men and women are imprisoned here for actions that should not be considered crimes in any country-the exercise of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, of speech, of thought, of worship, of association, which all governments should uphold. I have asked the new government to grant the International Red Cross immediate and unfettered access to all prisoners in this country, which would help to improve their conditions," said the statement.
The Republican from Arizona said both countries want better relations, but said that sanctions should remain on the repressive nation until its new government takes "concrete" steps toward democratic reform. But "without concrete actions by this government that signal a deeper commitment to democratic change, there should be no easing or lifting of sanctions," the 2008 US presidential candidate said.