Currently, Mitchell is the principal assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

Win Tin, a National League for Democracy central executive committee member, said the appointment was welcomed.

‘We welcome the potential appointment of a US special envoy because he could observe how the economic sanctions affect the government and the people, and he could lead a dialogue to prevent violations of human rights in Burma. With constructive diplomacy, we can solve the problems of our country’, Win Tin told Mizzima.

Htay Aung, a Burmese observer, said the idea to appoint a US special envoy showed that the US wanted to engage in Burma’s politics and the advice of the special envoy could help the US  decision making processes for Burma.

‘The US has imposed sanctions against Burma’, said Htay Aung.  ‘But, it was not effective. If the US appoints a special envoy and the envoy watches Burma carefully and give advice to the US government, the decisions of the US will be better. Then, even if they need to take action against Burma, the actions will be more effective’.

Htay Aung said Mitchell has broad experience in the issues of Southeast Asia and Pacific affairs which will help him deal with issue in Burma.

On the other hand, Nai Nai Ngwe Thein, the All Mon Region Democracy Party chairman, said the US should lift its economic sanctions against Burma and the special envoy should  negotiate between the government and the pro-democracy opposition.

‘We hope the sanctions will be lifted’, he said. ‘If his duty is to give advice to groups in Burma and the US, to exchange ideas and to work as a liaison between the two countries, I welcome the appointment’, Nai Ngwe Thein told Mizzima.

Han Shwe, a spokesman of the National Unity Party, said it was unclear what the envoy’s duties might be.

‘What are his tasks? If his actions are not constructive, we cannot accept them’, Han Shwe told Mizzima.

Since the failed people’s uprising in 1988 in Burma, the US has not appointed a US ambassador to Burma.