President Bush announced new sanctions against Burma yesterday in response to the military-run government’s recent crackdown on demonstrators for democracy.
It was the second time in two months the United States punished the Southeast Asian nation for human rights abuses.
“The world has also been horrified by the response of Burma’s military junta,” Mr. Bush said. “Monks have been beaten and killed; thousands of pro-democracy protesters have been arrested.”
Mr. Bush ordered the Treasury Department to freeze the financial assets of members of the repressive military junta. He also acted to tighten controls on U.S. exports to Burma, also known as Myanmar.
Last month, tens of thousands of people turned out for rallies, which started as protests over sharp fuel price increases and later snowballed into the largest show of government dissent in decades. The junta claims 10 persons were killed when troops opened fire on demonstrators to disperse them, but diplomats and dissidents say the death toll is likely much higher.
In response, the Treasury Department last month designated 14 top leaders of the Burmese regime for sanctions, including Senior Gen. Than She and his deputy, Vice Senior Gen. Maung Aye. The State Department also imposed an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members.
Mr. Bush said yesterday the Treasury Department had designated 11 more leaders of the junta for sanctions, and issued a new executive order that designates an additional 12 individuals and entities for sanctions.
The executive order also grants the Treasury Department expanded authority to sanction individuals responsible for human rights abuses as well as public corruption, and those who support and provide financial backing to them or the government of Burma.
The president said he will continue to review U.S. policies with Burma and will consider additional measures if Burma’s leaders “do not end the brutal repression of their own people whose only offense is the desire to live in freedom.”
Derek Mitchell, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said sanctions targeting individual officials are more effective than broader penalties that tend to hurt the general population. But without more pressure from Burma’s neighbors, the sanctions will have a limited effect.
“If China for instance doesn’t participate, or India or Southeast Asia, the regime will get the funds it needs,” Mr. Mitchell said. “It’s a positive step; it’s a necessary step overall, but what’s really required is a much more coordinated multilateral approach.”
Mr. Mitchell added that the U.S. also should consider offering incentives to entice the Burmese leaders to step down from power.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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