UNITED STATES - BURMA

Burma’s military junta is recognized as a world-class human rights abuser, condemned both by the United Nations Human Rights Commission since 1989 and by the International Labour Organization for its systematic use of forced labour.

The Military regime Refuse to recognize the results of the 1990 elections won by NLD. Democratically elected Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was still under house arrest and the regime continues to arrest peaceful activists. Moreover, the regime charged the prominent monk U Gambira under provisional emergency act 5{J} and detained other Burmese political activists. Military Regime’s actions are remain unacceptable to all those who value freedom.

The United States describes its relationship with Burma as 'strained'. The United States Government consistently imposed 'broad' sanctions against the regime. Since the Clinton administration in1997, the United States government has prohibited new investment in Burma by United States persons or entities, although much American investment exited the country prior to the prohibition.

In 2003 the Bush administration imposed a broad range of financial, trade and investment sanctions, and these were renewed in 2006. Still, the regime refused to recognise the democratic process in Burma and in the mean time, the United States and other nations continue to pressure the regime and impose sanctions.

The United States declare that, if Than Shwe's junta keep on doing brutal oppression of the Burmese people, the United States would continue to review the policies and consider additional measures. The Executive Order 13448 signed by President Bush on October 18, 2007, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated additional individuals and entities for sanctions towards Burma.

OFAC designated four family members of regime leaders and four companies and three individuals connected to Tay Za, a Than Shwe regime crony and known arms dealer. These designations add to the 30 individuals and seven entities previously designated for sanctions.

President Bush has announced a series of steps to help the Burmese people bring peaceful change to their country, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear. Mrs. Bush also continues to remain active in supporting the Burmese people's demands for reconciliation and basic human rights such as freedom of speech, worship, association, and assembly.

The United States has:

-Tightened existing economic sanctions and levied new sanctions against the leaders of the regime and their financial backers.

-Imposed an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members.

-Called on the Government of Burma to uphold its obligations to the UN Security Council.

-Continued to support Burmese who seek a peaceful, democratic transition.

-Facilitated the efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma.

-Tightened the Commerce Department's export control regulations for Burma.

The United States said they will continue to do their part to help the people of Burma, and other countries, particularly Burma's neighbours, must do the same.