Myanmar : New Sanctions Imposed By Bush
DEB RIECHMANN, reports in The SeattleTimes , "For the second time in two months, President Bush announced sanctions against Myanmar to punish the military-run government and its backers for the recent violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.".........
The Associated Press reporter adds on......"Bush ordered the Treasury Department today to freeze the financial assets of additional members of the repressive military junta. He also acted to tighten controls on U.S. exports to Myanmar, also known as Burma, and called on the governments of China and India to do more to pressurise the government of the Southeast Asian nation."
Monks have been beaten and killed. Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have been arrested," Bush said in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.
"Burma's rulers continue to defy the world's just demands to stop their vicious persecution."
Last month, tens of thousands of people turned out for rallies, which started as protests of sharp fuel increases and later snowballed into the largest show of government dissent in decades. The junta claims that 10 people were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators to disperse them, but diplomats and dissidents say the death toll is likely much higher.
In response, the Bush administration froze the assets that individuals responsible for the crackdown have in U.S. banks or other financial institutions under U.S. jurisdiction. The administration also prohibited any U.S. citizens from doing business with the designated individuals. Among those targeted for the sanctions were the junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, and the No. 2 man in the military regime, Deputy Senior Gen. Maung Aye.
The crackdown also prompted first lady Laura Bush to make personal appeals for support for Myanmar citizens, saying the acts of violence "shame the military regime."
Mrs. Bush joined him as he announced his new sanctions.............
The president said the Treasury Department has designated 11 more leaders of the junta for sanctions. Bush also issued a new executive order that designates an additional 12 individuals and entities for sanctions...........
......."Burmese authorities claim they desire reconciliation. Well, they need to match those words with actions," Bush said.
The junta says it detained nearly 3,000 people in connection with the protests, that hundreds remain in custody and that it is still hunting for others. But the regime has released three prominent detainees, including the country's best-known comedian, as well as a popular actor and his wife.
On Thursday, the U.N. envoy to Myanmar said the country's military rulers could be offered incentives to move toward democratic reforms..........
However the disturbing fact is, the envoy Ibrahim Gambari, so far has failed to bring about a dialogue between the junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, and detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
..........Responding to the continued crackdown, the State Department also has designated more than three dozen additional government and military officials and their families ineligible to receive visas to travel to the United States.
On Thursday, Bush punished Myanmar for alleged "human trafficking," the forced labor and prostitution that the United States calls a modern-day form of slavery. The Bush administration determined that Myanmar is ineligible for U.S. aid for failing to meet the minimum standards of fighting trafficking or make significant efforts to do so.
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PERSONAL VIEWS.......
Till people of countries are instigated or sponsored to practise and resort to the ideology, "LAWS are made to be broken", WORLD-PEACE shall continue to remain under the 'dark cloud' that hovers around the today's gloomy world.
DEMOCRACY, in any country with people of such mind-set of perception can never be fruitful, nor shall it be conducive for any other country to transform to an effective DEMOCRACY, under any other form of their present Govt. where people are made to be 'LAW abiding' by force, repression and fear.
It will only and only be possible when people themselves generate urge to inculcate CIVILITY by taking a leaf out of as their yardstick from, 'LAW abiding CIVILISED citizenry' of a few examplary DEMOCRATIC countries and continue to stead-fastly strive in that pursuit of transformation into an effective DEMOCRACY, vital for WORLD PEACE.
Love and Peace.
BEST OF FUTURE
Relevant Links......
Myanmar's Military Brutality in Pics-1
Myanmar's Military Brutality in Pics-2
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