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Reuters:Clinton announces U.S. sanc



Subject: Reuters:Clinton announces U.S. sanctions on Burma

Clinton Announces U.S. Sanctions on Burma

Tuesday May 20 7:20 PM EDT
(updates throughout)

By Laurence McQuillan

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuter) - President Bill Clinton, citing "severe 
repression" in Burma, on Tuesday imposed economic sanctions on Rangoon, 
including a ban on U.S. investment in its oil and natural gas development.

The order prohibits U.S. citizens from entering into contracts that 
involve the economic development of resources in Burma.

It also prohibits Americans from purchasing ownership shares in 
developing resources in the country or helping non-U.S. citizens who wish 
to perform actitivities forbidden under the ban.

The United States is the fourth-largest investor in Burma, after France, 
Singapore and Thailand.

In a message to Congress, Clinton said he was taking the action because 
of "serious abuses" by the military government against political 
opponents. He also complained about the flow of illegal drugs through 
Burma.

Clinton, who announced in April that he intended to impose the sanctions, 
said he has "taken these steps in response to a deepening pattern of 
severe repression by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) 
in Burma."

"I emphasize that Burma's international isolation is not an 
inevitability," Clinton said, noting that "the authorities in Rangoon 
retain the ability to secure improvements in relations with the United 
States as well as with the international community."

The United States and many other Western countries have criticized Burma 
for human rights abuses and for failing to recognize the democratically 
elected government of the opposition National League for Democracy, which 
was co-founded by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Roger Beach, the chairman of the oil and gas company Unocal Corp . -- the 
largest U.S. investor in Burma -- has said he was disappointed with the 
decision to impose sanctions because it would hurt economic development.

Two other U.S. oil giants, Texaco Inc and Atlantic Richfield Co, also 
have investments in Burma.

The United States has halted direct financial assistace and blocked much 
international aid since the SLORC took over in 1988. It has also denied 
U.S. visas to Burmese leaders.

In his statement, Clinton noted that he "and the Congress speak with one 
voice on this issue." He said he looked forward "to continued close 
consultation with the Congress on efforts to promote human rights and 
democracy in Burma."

The army has run Burma with an iron grip since the 1960s, crushing an 
uprising in 1988 and since then terrorizing or jailing democracy 
activists.

"The steps I take today demonstrate my administration's resolve to 
support the people of Burma, who made clear their commitment to human 
rights and democracy," Clinton said.