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US Senate extends economic sanctions against Burma
The United States Senate has voted to extend economic sanctions against Burma for three years due to what law makers decried as the ruling regime's lamentable human rights record.
ABC Asia Pacific TV/ Radio Australia: 27July, 2006
The United States Senate has voted to extend economic sanctions against Burma for three years due to what law makers decried as the ruling regime's lamentable human rights record.
The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act were first passed by the Senate in 2003 and had been renewed every year since then, but so far, to little effect.
A supporter of the legislation, Democrat Max Baucus, says tragically Burma's human rights record has worsened over the last few years, rather than improved.
He listed a number of complaints, including the extended detention of opposition pro-democracy leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi.
Mr Baucus also called on the Bush administration to work with other countries to intensify pressure on the regime especially those economically engaged with Burma such as China, India and Thailand.
The House of Representatives earlier this month also agreed to extend sanctions against Burma, but for just one additional year, with a mechanism that would allow future extensions to be considered in 2007 and 2008.