| The
biggest ongoing debate among countries seeking to bring
about democratic reform and national reconciliation
in Burma is the appropriate method to use to pressure
Burma’s military regime to initiate meaningful
democratic reform and national reconciliation. |
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The US has been an
ardent supporter of using economic sanctions against
Burma’s military regime and has followed through
in this position with the most comprehensive legislation
and executive action against Burma’s junta.
The US has also been the strongest advocate in the
UN Security Council (UNSC) for the adoption of a resolution
in Burma. In January 2007, the US introduced a Chapter
VI Resolution on Burma before the UNSC. The resolution
was co-sponsored by the UK. Current
sanctions in place against the military regime under
the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 include:
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Suspension of economic aid and ban on new investments. |
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Prohibition on importing any Burmese product into the
US. |
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Arms embargo. |
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Visa restrictions on SPDC members, USDA senior officials,
SPDC, military above the rank of colonel, and civil
servants above the rank of director-general. |
| • The freezing of
assets of designated SPDC institutions and the barring
of US funding for SPDC officials or employees in educational
and cultural exchange programs. |
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| The EU has also
utilized sanctions as an economic weapon against the
SPDC. However, the EU position has been inconsistently
applied in some instances. Current sanctions in place
against the military regime include: |
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The delivery or supply of arms and related materiel,
as well as equipment which might be used for internal
repression, to Burma, from Member States' territory,
by their nationals, or using their flagged vessels
and aircraft. |
•
The provision of technical assistance, brokering services
and other services related to military activities
and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and
use of arms and related materiel and equipment which
might be used for internal repression to any person,
entity or body in, or for use in, Burma. |
•
The provision of financing or financial assistance
related to military activities including for arms
and related materiel and equipment which might be
used for internal repression to any person, entity
or body, in or for use in, Burma. |
•
A travel ban preventing listed individuals and their
families from entering the EU. |
| • An assets freeze
against individual members of the SPDC and a prohibition
on making funds and economic resources available to
those individuals. |
| • Suspension of
non-humanitarian aid or development programs. |
| • The withdrawal
of GSP privileges withdrawn because of forced labor. |
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| ASEAN countries
have advocated for “constructive engagement”
with the SPDC since Burma was admitted to the group
in 1997. But Burma has been a continuing embarrassment
and problem for ASEAN, especially in its relations with
the US and EU. |
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The deteriorating human rights and economic situation
led to the formation of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) in late 2004 with MPs across
the political spectrum to lobby ASEAN leaders about
the situation in Burma.
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The political pressure applied by AIPMC member resulted
in numerous achievements including: the SPDC decision
to forgo ASEAN Chair in 2005; the Philippines support
for putting Burma on the UNSC agenda; the ASEAN Summit
decision to designate a special envoy to visit Burma
to assess efforts for political reform and national
reconciliation in December 2005. |
•
When the UNSC was considering a resolution on Burma,
ASEAN countries rejected the notion of UN intervention
and many ASEAN leaders said that the situation in
Burma can be best addressed by ASEAN not the UNSC.
Indonesia, a UNSC member at the time, abstained in
UNSC vote. |
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| The UN has been
actively involved in promoting democracy in Burma and
addressing the serious human rights violations that
are perpetrated by the SPDC military. |
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The UN General Assembly has adopted 15 resolutions on
Burma. |
•
The UN Commission on Human Rights has passed 14 resolutions
on Burma. |
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Two Special Envoys, three Special Rapporteurs, and one
independent expert have been appointed to Burma beginning
in 1990. Ismail Razali, the most recent UN Special Envoy,
resigned in January 2006 after being kept out of Burma
for two years. Likewise, Sergio Pinheiro, the current
UN Special Rapporteur, has not been allowed in Burma
for more than two years. |
•
SPDC allowed the visit of UN Under-Secretary for Political
Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari to visit Burma in May and November
2006. Gambari was the first UN official to meet with
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi since 2003. |
•
In September 2006, the UNSC put Burma on its agenda.
In January 2007, China and Russia vetoed the UNSC resolution
on Burma. |
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| China is the SPDC’s
strongest political ally. China provides the SPDC with
significant amounts of military and economic aid. In
return, the SPDC has given China contracts for oil and
gas and plans are in the works for a pipeline to be
built from Akyab to Kunming. In January 2007, China
vetoed a UNSC resolution on Burma. |
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| In the last
several years, India has changed its relationship
with Burma’s military regime from that of a
detractor to that of a supporter. India is supplying
a significant amount of military aid in exchange for
SPDC attacks on Indian separatists groups using bases
inside of Burma. India also wants Burma’s oil
and gas resources and wants to maintain good relations
with the SPDC so it can continue to invest and exploit
these resources. India also wants to counter China’s
influence in Burma. |
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| Japan provides
Burma with its largest source of development aid. Japan
has been inconsistent in is approach to human rights
issues in Burma. |
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| South Korean corporation,
Daewoo, is a major player in Burma’s oil and gas
industry. In late 2006, Daewoo was involved in a major
scandal of providing illegal weapons technology to Burma.
South Korea has not criticized of Burma’s military
regime. |
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| Burma and North
Korea have constructive relations with each other and
diplomatic relations were re-established in April of
2007 after a 14 year break. There have been consistent,
but unconfirmed, reports that North Korea has been assisting
the SPDC with the construction of a nuclear reactor. |
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| Russia provides
the SPDC with significant amounts of military hardware
and is viewed as a major political ally of the SPDC.
In May of 2007, Russia and the SPDC entered into an
agreement for the construction of a nuclear research
center in Burma. Russia is also involved in oil exploration
in joint ventures with the SPDC. In January 2007,
Russia vetoed a UNSC resolution on Burma. |
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| Australia is vocal
critic of the SPDC’s human rights violations and
the slow pace of implementing any meaningful measures
of democratic reform. Australia provides development
and humanitarian aid to the SPDC because of its partnership
with ASEAN. |
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