Bush threatens Burma with more sanctions

Today's Sports News - Wednesday December 12, 2007

Bush threatens Burma with more sanctions

Washington (dpa) - US President George W Bush threatened further sanctions against Burma if its leaders don't move toward democracy, saying he was "deeply disturbed" by a report from a UN human rights envoy to Burma that found a crackdown against anti-government protesters in September was continuing.

UN envoy Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who visited Burma in November, reported Tuesday before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Burma's military regime showed no signs of ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"Mr Pinheiro's report demonstrates why the world cannot go back to business as usual with General Than Shwe and his junta," Bush said in a statement issued in Washington Tuesday night. "I call on all members of the international community to condemn the atrocities detailed in Mr Pinheiro's report in the strongest possible terms."

Bush also said he was prepared to add more sanctions on the junta after tightening them following September's crackdown by freezing the assets of junta leaders and blacklisting companies and individuals linked to the regime.

"Should the regime continue to ignore calls for a true democratic transition and the release of [Nobel Peace Prize laureate] Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the United States is prepared to lead international efforts to place more sanctions on the regime," Bush said.

Pinheiro said he documented the killings of 16 people in addition to the 15 listed by Burma's government, 74 people who had disappeared and 653 people who were detained after troops broke up September's peaceful protests in the country once known as Burma.

Bush called the details revealed by Pinheiro as "alarming," adding, "I strongly condemn these actions and the junta's refusal to accept the need for real change in Burma."

The US government has had no success in pressing the junta for change. The UN Security Council issued a watered-down statement in October that deplored the crackdown after China objected to stronger language sought by Western countries, including the United States.

China and Russia also vetoed a US draft resolution in January that called on Burma to free political prisoners and move toward democracy.

The United States and the European Union both imposed additional sanctions on Burma this fall, but they have little effect since they have few business dealings in a country rich in natural resources such as oil, wood and gems that has found customers easily in other countries.

Among them are China and India, which oppose sanctions on Burma, as does the 10-nation Association of South-East Asian Nations, of which Burma is a member.

13:57 Dec 12, 2007

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