US House votes to renew import restrictions on Myanmar

[Ron Burgundy]

AFP - The US House of Representatives voted Monday to renew a ban on all imports from military-ruled Myanmar as part of sanctions for repressing democratic opposition and for human rights abuses.

"Today’s vote to renew US import restrictions on the military regime in Burma (Myanmar) sends a clear message that those fighting for democracy and human rights in Burma do not stand alone in their struggle," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after lawmakers unanimously adopted a resolution on the ban.

An identical resolution was adopted 21-0 by the US Senate finance committee and sent to the full chamber for voting, expected within the next few days, Congressional aides said.

The House resolution came about two months after President George W. Bush renewed sanctions on Myanmar for another year. They prohibit new investments and exports of financial services and deny visas to top junta officials.

"As we renew our import sanctions, we aim both to pressure directly the military junta in Burma and to influence those in the international community who are currently asleep at the wheel of justice and human rights," said Tom Lantos, the Democratic head of the powerful House panel on foreign relations.

"Oppressive power can only be de-legitimized when it is fully isolated," he said, regretting that "too many other nations -- India and China in particular -- continue to prop up the government through shockingly direct deals, including arms trading, with this cruel junta."

Democratic Senator Max Baucus, who chaired the Senate finance committee meeting on the import ban, said the sanctions could be "truly effective" if there was a "more coordinated effort with other countries.

"We must especially work with Burma’s immediate neighbors. I hope that we can see more progress on that front in the year ahead," he said.

Lawmakers called for the release of Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi -- a Nobel Peace prize laureate whose National League for Democracy (NLD) political party won 1990 elections but was never allowed to take office.

She has spent most of the past 17 years under house arrest.

"The passage of this resolution shows that the American people will continue to stand with Aung San Suu Kyi and the freedom-seeking people of Burma in their just cause," Pelosi said.

The United States Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based activist group, welcomed the Congressional moves, saying they denounced the junta's attempt to legalize military rule through a "sham" national consultative process.

The country's military rulers are currently staging a final round of a national convention to frame a constitution, which democracy advocates say will ensure the junta remains in control of the government.

Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD has boycotted the convention since 1995 in protest at the detention of its leader.

"The message from the House to the junta today is that 'we don't recognize your attempt to legalize the military rule forever through the sham national convention process,'" said Aung Din, co-founder of the United States Campaign for Burma. Aung Din is a torture survivor and former political prisoner of the military.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070724/pl_afp/usmyanmarsanctions [link]