[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
NEWS FORM INDIA (r)
CANADA JOINS US IN IMPOSING CURBS ON BURMESE JUNTA
==========================================================
By Hari S. Maniam
Kuala Lumpur, July 29: Canada will join the Unites States
in imposing sanctions on Burma's government after being
turned down in attempts to encourage that country to make
democracy reforms Canadian officials said on Tuesday.
The Canadians said they had sought progress in a variety of
ways in a meeting on Tuesday with Burmese foreign minister
Ohn Gyaw, but that he was unambiguously unresponsive."
"We didn't see any willingness to engage," Canadian foreign
minister Lloyd Axworthy said in an interview with Voice of
America radio. "Therefore, in this case, a broader level of
international censure, I think, is necessary," Mr Axworthy
added.
Canada is considering a halt to investment and limits to
trade, perhaps through higher tariffs, specifically to
counter Burma's attempts to encourage foreign investment
through its new status as a member of the Association of
South East Asian nations, the officials said.
The Montreal Gazette quoted Mr Axworthy on Tuesday as
saying all international and regional pressures for
political reform have been met so far with a "deafening
silence" from Burma.
The paper quoted him as saying Canada aimed to keep Burma
from profiting from its new membership in Asean, which on
Tuesday concluded a series of annual security talks with
Asian and Western developed countries.
Asean consists of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam,
the Philippines, Singapore Brunei, Laos and Burma. At a
closing news conference, Mr Ohn Gyaw was asked to respond
to criticism from other foreign ministers especially
European Union president Jacques Poos, that Burma's
presentations had been neither credible nor adequate.
"What I am providing is what is actually going on in the
country," he said. "What I am presenting is true facts,
real facts," he said, adding, "Wrong impressions about the
situation are gathered from talking to people who are
against the government."
"We are proceeding toward democracy," he said, adding that
there were differences of opinion on "whether that
democracy accords with the outside world's perception or is
in accordance with our own values."
Responding to Mr Ohn Gyaw, US under secretary of state
Stuart Eizenstat said, "Our view is that Burma's top drug
traffickers have become leading investors in the economy
and leading lights in the new political order." He said
that the situation poisoned the atmosphere for any
investment in the country and was a basis for the US ban on
all new investment there.
The United States is seeking international cooperation to
isolate Burma economically and politically to put pressure
on its military government into making democratic reforms.
It opposed Burma's admission to Asean.
The United States also has cut off aid to Cambodia, in
another difference with Asean, which ended this year's
conference by announcing that Cambodian coup leader Hun Sen
had formally welcomed the organization's help in bringing
about political stability so that it can soon join the
trade group.
"Asean has come of age as an institution to bring about
peace and stability." Mr Eizenstat said.
"It has recognized the need, even while taking Burma as a
member, to improve standards in Burma and it has postponed
the membership of Cambodia. This is a major change. This
was a historical Asean conference," Mr Eizenstat said. (AP)
The Asian Age 30, July 1997.
News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League
************************( End )****************************
+=====================================+
| A B S L |
+-------------------------------------+
| All Burma Students League |
| 3, Krishna Menon Marg |
| New Delhi - 110011 |
| Ph : 91-11-3017172/3016035 |
| Fx : 91-11-3793397 |
| Email : shar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
+=====================================+