EBO BURMA NEWS 16 JULY 2003
News Summary:
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1. US closer to tougher sanctions on
2.
3. BRITISH TOURISM IN
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US closer to tougher sanctions on
Burma
Financial Times
By Deborah McGregor in
The US House of Representatives on Tuesday
approved legislation that would
tighten economic sanctions against
in the
The legislation was a response to the
recent crackdown by
on the pro-democracy movement. The Senate
passed a similar bill last month.
President George W. Bush is expected to
sign final legislation later this year
once slight differences between the two
versions are reconciled.
The decision to proceed with tougher
measures followed the arrest on May 30
of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate and
opposition leader, in what the
State Department called an ambush by
government-sponsored thugs.
The legislation would ban all imports from
expand a visa ban against Burmese leaders. The
(euro 316m) worth
of textiles, clothing, footwear and other goods from
last year.
The restrictions would remain in effect
until Mr Bush certified that
taken sufficient steps towards ending human
rights violations and implementing
democratic reforms.
The legislation was passed despite
warnings that it could violate US obligations
under the World Trade Organisation and could
provide grounds for the
government to file an official trade complaint.
The overwhelming support underscored
growing impatience among US policymakers
with the lack of pro-democracy changes in the
south-east Asian nation and the
greater willingness to use trade to spur reforms.
The House vote was
418-2 in favour; the Senate's was 97-1.
The ruling military leaders seized power
in 1988 and voided the 1990 elections
that would have handed power to Ms Suu Kyi and
her National League for Democracy.
Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican who pushed
hard for the tougher measures, said
the legislation reflected "growing
frustration and dismay" as prospects for greater
democracy "have withered in the face of the
ruling military regime's determination
to maintain an iron grip on power".
Last year Congress held off on similar
legislation banning imports after Ms Suu Kyi
was released from house arrest. But her
re-arrest this year revived
The bill also urged
end the repression. And it directed Colin Powell,
the secretary of state, to
encourage other countries to cut off support for
the Burmese government.
"These are tough measures but no
tougher than
said Tom Lantos of
Relations committee.
--------------------------------
US attacks
double-barrelled attack on
accusing it of failing to meet its human rights
commitments.
The broadside came as
financial assets in US banks.
Schriver said
should use its leverage to push for change.
He noted that virtually all other Asian
nations had made it clear they
opposed the detention of
arrested on May 30 after clashes between her
followers and pro-regime elements.
"That leaves
"
there, the tragic attack.
"
the rest of the international community to
put whatever pressure we can on the
regime there, to free Aung San Suu Kyi and allow
the people a greater degree
of freedom and political
participation."
---------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
BRITISH TOURISM IN
Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien today
urged British travel agents who
arrange holidays in
After writing to the Chief Executive of
the Association of British Travel Agents
(ABTA), Ian Reynolds, Mr. O’Brien said:
“In the light of the recent dreadful
developments in
to ABTA to ask tour operators to stop
arranging holidays there.
“There are compelling reasons not to
holiday in
derives both direct economic benefits and
political legitimacy from Burmese tourism.
Foreign visitors remain a source of hard
currency for the regime, much of which
increasingly ends up in the private bank accounts of
the Generals and their
associates.
Moreover, there are many well-documented cases of human-rights
abuses associated with
to build some of
forcibly relocated to make way for tourism-related
developments.
“The Burmese democracy movement do not
encourage tourists to visit
in the present circumstances. They argue that continued international
pressure
is essential to bring the Burmese generals
to the negotiating table, and that
the tourist industry can play a part in this.
“The British government recognises that
the decision to visit
one for individuals themselves to make, but
in the light of the prevailing situation
there, I think it is right that those
considering a holiday to the country – and the
travel operators which promote them - should
think twice before proceeding.”
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Euro-Burma Office
Square Gutenberg 11/2
1000
tel: 32 2 280 0691/280 2452
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