Reuters : EU implements sanctions on Myanmar junta, firms
Bangkok Post : Europe launches tougher Burma sanctions
Xinhua : EU adopts new sanctions against Myanmar
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Reuters: EU implements sanctions on Myanmar junta, firms
Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:47am EST
By Ingrid Melander
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union adopted sanctions on Monday against 1,207 firms in Myanmar and expanded visa bans and asset freezes on the country's military rulers in response to their bloody crackdown on protests.
The move implements sanctions agreed in principle by ministers last month after the junta crushed the biggest pro-democracy protests in nearly 20 years in September. The junta acknowledges killing at least 15 people in the monk-led protests, but Western diplomats say the figure was much higher.
The sanctions target the country's key timber, metals and gemstone sectors. They include an investment ban on companies controlled by the regime or by people linked to the regime.
EU foreign ministers also prohibited exports on equipment to sectors involving timber, metals, minerals, semi-precious and precious stones, as well as imports from these sectors.
"The EU remains concerned by the situation in Burma/Myanmar and reiterated its call on the government to take substantive steps to address the concerns of its people and the international community," ministers said in a statement.
The EU has stressed that its trade -- and therefore economic leverage -- with Myanmar is limited, though it has so far steered clear of Myanmar's energy sector, in which French oil giant Total is a big investor.
Ministers nevertheless stressed the 27-nation bloc could take further sanctions and had tasked experts to work on that.
"We continue to look for ways to put pressure on the Burmese regime in such a way that if it doesn't respond...the EU and the international community should be prepared to take further steps," British Europe minister Jim Murphy told reporters.
"But equally, if there is a positive response from the Burmese regime there also should be economic opportunity available to develop their economy," he said.
BANKING SANCTIONS POSSIBLE
Murphy said additional future steps could include more stringent banking sanctions sought by activists including Human Rights Watch, which last week urged the European Union to coordinate such steps with the United States.
The United States has more stringent measures that deny individuals and entities access to U.S. banking systems and international financial transactions.
It also has the capacity to refuse access to U.S. financial institutions to any financial institution that services the ruling junta in Myanmar and Human Rights watch said it was important to prevent circumvention of this via European banks.
Myanmar's junta is widely believed to use Singapore as its main offshore banking centre and the United States has called on the city state to sever financial links with the generals.
The list of firms covered by the EU sanctions was due to be published later on Monday.
The EU urged the junta to lift restrictions on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, enter into dialogue with her and release those detained in the protests.
(Reporting by Ingrid Melander and David Brunnstrom; editing by Ralph Boulton)
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Bangkok Post: Europe launches tougher Burma sanctions
Brussels (dpa) - EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday confirmed the imposition of tougher sanctions on Burma's military regime following October's crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators.
The new restrictions, agreed on October 15 and formalised by ministers on Monday, include a longer list of Burmese officials who are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze.
An investment ban on Burmese state-owned enterprises has also been extended to include businesses owned or controlled by the regime or "by persons and entities associated with the regime," an EU statement said.
Ministers also confirmed additional restrictive measures on Burmese logging, timber and mining sectors.
While the General Affairs Council in Brussels was to consider "further restrictive measures", EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the effects of current sanctions should be assessed first.
The EU recently appointed Piero Fassino, a former Italian justice minister, as its special envoy to Burma.
"This appointment underlines the importance that the EU attaches to development, democratic change, reconciliation and the improvement of the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar," EU ministers said Monday, referring to the military regime's name for Burma.
Fassino plans to visit the region, but no date has yet been set.
In the meantime, the ministers reaffirmed their "strong support" for the efforts of UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who visited Burma on November 3-8.
"The EU looks forward to Mr Gambari's return and reiterates its call on the government of Burma/Myanmar to afford him all possible assistance, access and freedom of action in order to carry out his mandate," EU ministers said in a statement.
The government officials also reiterated their calls for "meaningful dialogue" between the regime and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and for all political prisoners to be freed.
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Xinhua: EU adopts new sanctions against Myanmar
BRUSSELS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) Monday adopted new sanctions against Myanmar, including an embargo on imports of timber, gems and metals from the country.
A statement issued by EU foreign ministers who are meeting in Brussels said the measures also extended the list of Myanmar leaders and their relatives who are subject to a travel ban and assets freeze "in view of the seriousness of the current situation in the country."
The scope of the investment ban on Burmese (Myanmar) state-owned enterprises is also extended by including enterprises that are owned or controlled by the government or by persons or entities associated with the government, it added.
The 27-member European bloc also decided to prohibit financial assistance and the export of equipment and technology to Myanmar enterprises engaged in logging, timber and mining of metals and minerals, as well as precious or semi-precious stones.
"It also prohibits the import into the Community of round logs, timber and timber products, metals and minerals, as well as precious and semi-precious stones," the statement said.
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Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)
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Ottawa, ON K1R 6P1
Tel: 613.237.8056
Fax: 613.563.0017
Email: cfob@cfob.org
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