EBO BURMA NEWS 17 JULY 2003

EBO BURMA NEWS 17 JULY 2003

News Summary:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Bush eager to sign Myanmar sanctions bill

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bush eager to sign Myanmar sanctions bill

WASHINGTON, July 16 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush looks forward to

signing newly passed legislation imposing sanctions on Myanmar's ruling

military junta, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Wednesday.

"This legislation sends a clear message to the Burmese regime that their

continued detention of Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and their

assaults on freedom cannot stand," he said in a statement.

The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 authorizes Bush to provide

aid to Myanmar's democracy activists, impose trade restrictions, freeze the

regime's financial assets in US banks, and install a visa ban on regime

members seeking to enter the United States.

The legislation, which the US president has said he would sign, was

introduced to punish the junta for its recent crackdown on pro-democracy

groups and its detention on May 30 of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The president applauds today's passage of the Burmese Freedom and

Democracy Act by the Congress, and he looks forward to signing it into law,"

said McClellan.

The measure "is intended to focus the world's attention on the Burmese

regime's continuing oppression of its people. The United States fully supports

the Burmese people in their struggle for democracy," the spokesman said.

###

If you do not wish to receive this daily newsletters, please reply

with your e-mail address and the "cancel" in the text section.

With many thanks,

Burma News

Euro-Burma Office

Square Gutenberg 11/2

1000 Brussels

Belgium

tel: 32 2 280 0691/280 2452

fax: 32 2 280 0310