EBO “Burma News” 17 February 2003

News Summary:

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1. US considering new sanctions on Myanmar

2. Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Myanmar

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US considering new sanctions on Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (AFP) - The United States said Saturday it was highly

sceptical that Myanmar's military was serious about reform, and warned it was

considering further sanctions as its patience wears thin.

Lorne Craner, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and

Labor delivered a highly pessimistic survey of the political situation in

Myanmar.

He said that the US government was disappointed that the release from house

arrest last year of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was not followed by a

geniune effort by the government to enter dialogue with the opposition.

"We remain highly sceptical about the regime's commitment to any political

transition," Craner said at a conference here of exiled Myanmar politicians

and rights activists.

"The (junta's) disregard for human rights and democracy extends to every

conceivable category of violation and we will be cataloguing these this year.

"The regime suppresses political dissent by censorship, persecution,

beatings, disappearances and imprisonment," he said, at the event sponsored

by the Free Burma coalition.

Craner said that the United States could not verify that more than 100

political prisoners the regime promised to release have yet been freed, and

said hundreds more remained in prison in poor conditions.

He said that Washington still harbors hope that a UN-brokered dialogue

between the military and Aung San Suu Kyi will yield results.

But he warned : "we are disappointed and frustrated by the recalcitrance of

the (government)."

"Our patience for positive change is beginning to run out and we, along

with the UK and others, are considering all options, including further

sanctions."

The United States currently maintains an investment ban, travel

restrictions for Myanmar officials and an arms embargo on Myanmar among

other sanctions.

"Only our sanctions on Iraq are tougher," Craner said.

Washington is a frequently fierce critic of Myanmar, and a strong supporter

of Aung San Suu Kyi, who won an overwhelming election victory in 1990 which

was never recognised by the ruling military.

On Wednesday she called for dialogue with the military government to start

a process of national reconciliation but questioned the junta's desire for

talks.

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Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Myanmar

New York, 12 February 2003

United Nations News Centre

The Secretary-General is concerned by the arrests by the Myanmar authorities

of 12 members of opposition parties, including 7 members of the National League

for Democracy (NLD) as well as Sai Nyunt Lwin, the Secretary-General of the Shan

National League for Democracy (SNLD). He reiterates his strong belief that national

reconciliation should begin with a constructive dialogue between the Myanmar

authorities and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which is being facilitated by his Special

Envoy, Razali Ismail. For such a constructive dialogue to move forward, the opposition

parties, including NLD, should be able to engage freely in political activities

in Myanmar. He once again urges the Myanmar authorities to release without

delay all political prisoners, and to engage in substantive political dialogue

with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

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