US Lawmakers Welcome Bush's New Sanctions on Burma

Two powerful American lawmakers on Tuesday welcomed the decision of US President George Bush to impose additional economic sanctions on Burma.

"The president has taken appropriate action to support these brave demonstrators by further restricting the ability of Burma's despicable leadership to travel and spend their ill-gotten cash freely," Sen Tom Lantos said soon after Bush spoke on Burma at the UN General Assembly.

The chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Lantos voiced his support for the administration's proposals to tighten financial and travel sanctions on key Burmese leaders in response to the ongoing demonstrations.

"As the people of Burma risk everything to stand up for their most fundamental rights, all responsible leaders of the world should join this call for peaceful change in Burma. In particular, the members of the UN Security Council, the Asean countries and other influential countries such as India must take this important stand for human rights and democracy," Lantos said.

Lantos warned Burma's leadership against a violent response that would echo the 1988 government crackdown in which thousands of protesters were killed.

"The international community must be united in making clear to Burma's military thugs that they will face dire consequences if they make the terrible mistake of cracking down and spilling the blood of innocent lives," he said. "If they are again on the wrong side of history, they must understand that they will be hunted down and dragged before an international tribunal to be tried for crimes against humanity," he said.

Applauding the statement made by the US President George W Bush announcing more sanctions against Burma, Sen Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said: "The SPDC will not give way easily to peaceful protest and resistance. We must let those in Burma who seek peaceful change know that they do not stand alone."

The senator said now is the time for UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to seize the moment and use the office of the secretary-seneral to work for the betterment of the Burmese people.

"He and the secretary-general himself need to be working diligently to ensure that the momentum of the last several weeks is not lost and is instead translated into real progress toward the democratization of Burma; the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; and the inclusion of ethnic minorities in a peaceful reconciliation process. This is all the more important since the UN Security Council has until now been paralyzed on issues involving Burma because of China's intransigence," he said.

McConnell said the world is not only cheering the people of Burma in their heroic struggle, and keeping a close eye on the SPDC to see how it responds to peaceful demonstrators, it is also watching the United Nations to ensure that the international body lives up to its mandate and does not permit this precious moment to slip away.

Observing that pressure is mounting on the Burma's regime, he said the junta should follow the pragmatic model of apartheid South Africa in the early 1990s: recognize the need to enter into good faith negotiations with the legitimate leaders of the people.

The efforts of the monks and citizens who have taken to the streets in demonstrations evoke memories of 1989 when equally brave men and women stood up to Communist oppression in Europe and watched equally cruel regimes crumble, he said.

Observing that Burma's two giant neighbors have good military and financial ties with the junta, the senator said India and both have a major stake in a prosperous and democratic Burma emerging from this unrest.

"Failure to act in a constructive manner would be a poor reflection on India, the world's largest democracy. Failure to act in a meaningful manner would also be a poor reflection on China as that nation begins efforts to showcase itself for the 2008 Beijing Olympics," the senator said.

Noting the courage of the people of Burma and the monks in particular, the senator said: "Imagine the courage of their actions. Their non-violent response subjects them to potential imprisonment and torture from a regime that has done far more, to citizens who have done far less."

Warning the military junta of any military action against the peaceful demonstrators, the senator said: "As the government of Burma you are responsible for the safety and well-being of the demonstrators and also of Aung San Suu Kyi."