US disapproves ASEAN entree for Bur

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Subject:  US disapproves ASEAN entree for Burma junta

Tuesday, June 3, 1997

Financial Review 

US disapproves ASEAN
entree for Burma junta

By Colleen Ryan, Washington 

After imposing economic sanctions on Burma just a fortnight ago, citing 
"severe repression", the United States has voiced its disappointment with the 
ASEAN group's decision to invite Burma into the fold. 

The Clinton Administration has been pressing for other nations to isolate the 
military junta in Burma until it stops repressing the pro-democracy forces led 
by Nobel prize winner Ms Aung San Suu Kyi. It had expressly asked the ASEAN 
nations not to admit Burma -- but to no avail. 

The US decision to impose economic sanctions in Burma met with opposition from 
the business community, not so much because of the size of US investments in 
Burma (they amount to approximately $250 million, mostly in the oil and gas 
sector) but because it ignited the controversy over sanctions generally and 
their effectiveness. Actions such as that taken by ASEAN do not help its case. 


State Department spokeswoman Ms Julie Reside said yesterday that while the US 
recognises that the makeup of ASEAN is an internal matter for its members, 
"nonetheless we regret that ASEAN appears to have invited Burma to join its 
organisation at this time". The State Department said that it was counting on 
ASEAN members to urge Burma's military junta to enter into a "productive 
dialogue" with domestic democratic forces and cease actions that undermined 
regional stability. 

"Our concerns about SLORC's (the State Law and Order Restoration Council's) 
policies are well known. It has violated the rights of its own citizens and 
taken actions that undermine stability in the region by producing refugee 
flows and allowing Burma to remain a major source of narcotics." She added 
that ASEAN shared these concerns "and, like the US, wanted to see them 
addressed". 

The major US investors in Burma include Unocal Corp (in a joint venture with 
Total), Arco, Atlantic Richfield and Texaco. The US sanctions apply only to 
future, and not existing, investments.