News & Articles on Burma-Monday, 25 April, 2011

News & Articles on Burma
Monday, 25 April, 2011
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Three Reportedly Killed in Internal BGF Clash
Thein Sein: Gov't Must Win Minorities' Trust
Shwe Mann Becomes Acting Chairman of USDP
21 Maynamrese Poachers apprehended from Andaman Sea
Festival welcomes human rights advocate
NUP urges rule of law and prisoner release
Deforestation concerns in the delta
Burma Oil Exploration Deals With Foreign Firms in the Pipeline: Report
Burma Set to Ink Int'l Energy Contracts
European firms seize on Suu Kyi release to hunt profit in Burma
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Three Reportedly Killed in Internal BGF Clash
By SAW YAN NAING Monday, April 25, 2011

Armed fighting broke out for reasons unknown between Karen soldiers from Border Guard Force (BGF) unit 1012 and another unidentified BGF unit at their headquarters in southern Karen State on Friday.

Three soldiers were reportedly killed in the clash, according to Karen sources close to the BGF, while an ammunition store and a military barracks were burned down. Ten rifles were sequestered from the ammunition store by unit 1012 during the clash, said Brig-Gen Johnny, the commander of Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 7.

The clash happened at Myaing Gyi Ngu, which is the former headquarters of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), a Karen rebel group which has mostly allied itself with the Burmese army despite much opposition to the alliance among its rank and file.

But despite widespread reports that many former DKBA soldiers were unhappy to serve under the control of Burmese army officers, Friday's incident marks the first reported bloodshed.

Col Paw Doh, of the main ethnic Karen armed group, the Karen National Union (KNU), told The Irrawaddy on Monday: “The fighting broke out on April 22 at about 3 pm. As far as we know, the fighting was initiated by Pa Mee. The soldiers burned down one ammunition store and one army barracks.”

Pa Mee is a commanding officer in BGF 1012 who was a former member of DKBA Battalion 555.

Another DKBA source close to BGF 1012 confirmed to The Irrawaddy that Pa Mee led his men in an attack against another BGF unit.

BGF unit 1012 is formed by formers members of DKBA Battalion 555 who were transferred last year into the Burmese government-controlled BGF.

Meanwhile, sources from Brigade 7 of the KNLA, the military wing of the KNU, reported that 12 Karen soldiers from BGF unit 1016 deserted the BGF and defected to KNLA Brigade 7 on April 21.

The defecting members of the BGF had been based in Myawaddy, and reportedly brought with them four M-16 rifles, six AK-47s, two carbine rifles and one M-79.

According to the KNLA Brigade 7 report, no less than 67 soldiers from BGF units 1015, 1016 and 1019 defected to the KNLA between January and April, most saying they were unwilling to serve under Burmese army command.

On Saturday, DKBA Brigade 5 attacked Burmese Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 212 in Ka Ma Kaung in Papun District of northern Karen State, where they burned down a paddy store and an ammunition store, according to Karen media reports.

Led by Brig-Gen Saw Lah Pwe, Brigade 5 is the largest faction of the DKBA to totally reject the BGF plan. In November, a serious clash broke out in Myawaddy between Brigade 5 and Burmese government troops, forcing 20,000 refugees to take temporary shelter in Thailand.

Armed clashes have continued to date between DKBA Brigade 5 and government troops in the southern Karen State area. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21172
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Thein Sein: Gov't Must Win Minorities' Trust
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Monday, April 25, 2011

RANGOON — Burma's new president has said his government must convince the country's many ethnic minorities of its good intentions toward them.

The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported Sunday that President Thein Sein said the government must convince minority groups living in border areas of its goodwill so they will cooperate in development efforts and loosen ties with neighboring countries.

Burma's sizable ethnic minorities have struggled for decades to win more autonomy but their efforts have been met by military suppression. The groups, such as the Karen and the Shan, have support networks in neighboring countries, especially Thailand.

Although Thein Sein's words appeared conciliatory, Burma's army continues to carry out operations against ethnic rebels.

The newspaper, which serves as the government's main outlet for information, said Thein Sein spoke at a "special projects implementation meeting" on Friday in the capital, Naypyitaw.

It quoted him as saying it is important that authorities reach out to people in the border regions because "only then can executive and judicial matters be effectively carried out and the rule of law will reign."

The central government has tenuous control of many parts of the country where minority groups—many of which maintain their own militias—are strongest. It has reached cease-fire agreements with 17 ethnic minority rebel groups since 1989 and most have been allowed to keep their weapons and maintain some autonomy over their areas.

But ahead of last November's elections, Burma's first in 20 years, the then-ruling junta asked the groups to turn their armed forces into a border guard force under the government's military leadership. Some of the major groups such as the Kachin Independence Army, the United Wa State Army and the New Mon State Party have refused, setting off unresolved tensions.

Burma had been under military rule since 1962. The government claims it has made a transition to democracy, but critics say the process was a sham designed to serve as a front for continued army rule.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21166
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Shwe Mann Becomes Acting Chairman of USDP
By THE IRRAWADDY Monday, April 25, 2011

Thura Shwe Mann, the former Burmese military regime's third-ranking official and head of the lower house in the new parliament, has reportedly been elected as vice chairman and current acting chairman of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

According to Naypyidaw sources, Shwe Mann is now temporarily holding the military-dominated party's chairmanship after Thein Sein—the incumbent USDP chairman—was constitutionally relieved of the position after becoming Burma's newly-elected president last month.

Military sources claim that the USDP leadership is experiencing a power struggle within itself, with Shwe Mann recently addressing a meeting to advocating 'democracy' within the party. However, other senior members—such as former military chief Than Shwe's close confidant Aung Thaung—instead stressed the importance of military-style unity in the party.

“Aung Thaung told the party to practise the military's motto of 'one blood, one voice, and one command,'” said a party source.

Former powerful ministers Aung Thaung and Thein Zaw, who are now the USDP MPs, have taken the party's new positions of secretary (1) and secretary (2) respectively, according to sources.

After Burma's strongman Than Shwe nominally gave up power as head of the military regime to the civilian government controlled by his close subordinates, speculation remains rife regarding how much power he retains and what role he is playing. Many analysts believe he is still firmly calling shots from behind the scenes.

It is also not clear if Than Shwe remains as the principal patron of the USDP, but rumors emanating from Rangoon suggest President Thein Sein would not fully serve his five-year term—with his position handed over to Shwe Mann in the next few years.

The former junta transformed the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA)—which was set up in 1993 as a social organization under the direction of high-ranking military officials—into the USDP last year to participate in elections marred by widespread vote rigging.http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21171
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21 Maynamrese Poachers apprehended from Andaman Sea

Port Blair, Apr 24 : Indian Coast Guard Ship Varad apprehended 21 Myanmarese poachers along with two mechanised boats near the Indo-Myanmar maritime boundary off East Island in two swift and successive operations conducted during Friday night.

ICGS Varad intercepted the poachers as they were attempting to intrude into Indian waters for illegally harvesting sea cucumber from islands waters.

ICGS Varad was on patrol near Indo-Myanmar international maritime border in the north Andaman Sea which is prone to intrusions by Myanmarese poachers. During surveillance the ship observed a suspicious movement of two boats crossing from across the IMBL into Indian waters, Commandant B K Singh, spokesperson forCoast Guard in Andaman told UNI today.

ICGS Varad immediately closed in to the boats and challenged them to identify themselves.

The poachers on sighting the ship tried to evade ICGS Varad by adopting high speed zigzag course and heading into shallow waters.

The Coast Guard Ship had to resort to high speed chase and small arms firing coercing the poachers to surrender. Diving equipment and sufficient stock of provisions to sustain the poachers for long duration in Andaman waters was recovered from both the Myanmarese boats, Commandant Singh added.

Later, apprehended poachers and boats were handed over to police at Diglipur.

ICGS Varad had apprehended 63 Myanmarese poachers along with five boats in 2010. "The apprehension of poachers is a strong deterrence signal to the poachers and indicates continuous vigil and surveillance by Indian coast guard ships off Andaman and Nicobar Islands," Commandant Singh said.
http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-195815.html
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Festival welcomes human rights advocate
Published on Monday 25 April 2011 15:19

Brighton Festival 2011 welcomes human rights advocate and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as guest director for this year’s festival in May.

Aung San Suu Kyi said: “It is especially pleasing for me to see, albeit remotely, Brighton Festival taking shape this year, and to think that so many people will come together in May to celebrate great art and experience the inner peace it brings.

“It is wonderful too to know that there is such support for the effort to bring democracy and freedom to Burma, for which the Burmese people have been diligently working for so long. I wish everyone involved in Brighton Festival this year – the artists and the audience – the happiest of times. And thank you. Please continue to use your liberty to promote ours.”

Andrew Comben, chief executive of Brighton Dome and Festival, said: “It is a great honour to build a festival around Aung San Suu Kyi and to take our inspiration from her. I hope this programme reflects some of her extraordinary spirit.

“I’ve been heartened that an incredible collection of artists have been so eager to come together under the umbrella of Brighton Festival to celebrate this iconic woman who is an inspiration to so many.

“Aung San Suu Kyi has fought passionately for over two decades for democracy and human rights in Burma and taken to the heart of this year’s Brighton Festival is her plea ‘use your liberty to promote ours’, with artists, both local and international, presenting a powerful and wide-ranging programme.

“Brighton, as the UK’s most liberal city, is the ideal place to host a festival celebrating themes of freedom of expression, liberty and the power of the individual voice in society and will come alive in May as we celebrate and champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s cause and world-vision.

“Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to many people around the world and particularly to many within the arts community. Brighton Festival is a unique opportunity for a collection of artists, who are passionate supporters, to respond to her and create headline events.

“Crossing all genres of the programme Brighton Festival 2011 includes events ranging from a new co-commissioned work by Turkish artist Kutlug( Ataman to a revival of the acclaimed site-specific theatre commission The New World Order by theatre company Hydrocracker based on Pinter’s political plays.

“Aung San Suu Kyi’s passion for Western classical music has also been reflected right across the programme, and includes Beethoven’s powerful hymn to freedom Fidelio in a concert performance with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Adam Fischer.”

Aung San Suu Kyi’s brother-in-law Adrian Phillips said: “Choosing Aung San Suu Kyi as guest director means Brighton Festival is able to present the very real and concerning issues in Burma to the public in a different way, through the universal language of the arts. Aung San Suu Kyi has often said how important music and the arts have been to her throughout her life and Brighton Festival is a wonderful opportunity to bring her struggle to a wider public, at a time when it is so important for the world to keep remembering what remains to be done in Burma.”http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/lifestyle/leisure/festival_welcomes_human_rights_advocate_1_2624554
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NUP urges rule of law and prisoner release
By AHUNT PHONE MYAT
Published: 25 April 2011

The new, government led by President Thein Sein should implement the rule of law in the country as opposed to rule by individual discretion, urged the National Unity Party (NUP). The spokesperson also backed calls for the release of political prisoners.

The NUP’s spokesperson, Han Shwe, told DVB that the new government, sworn in to office at the end of March, should focus on practicing the rule of law; “The new government whilst abiding by the constitution should practice a rule of law but not a rule by individual people,” said Han Shwe.

He continued that; “If this was done right, we should be able to get very close to implementing a democratic system in the country.”

The NUP spokesperson also told DVB that he “wished for the release” of political prisoners, with over 2,000 still behind bars. The government usually denies the existence of political prisoners.

“We wish for a dialogue – discussion with one another – as it’s generally a positive approach, an equal ground for everyone [to discuss] should be created when putting this into practice.”

The NUP was usurped at last year’s polls as the favoured party of the military establishment by the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and divisions have seemingly emerged since campaigning for the polls began.

The NUP, born out of Ne Win’s Burmese Socialist Programme Party as a proxy to the regime in 1990, the party fielded nearly 1000 candidates in last year’s 7 November elections but won just over 60 seats in all parliaments.

In the 1990 elections the NUP was heavily defeated at the ballot box by the National League for Democracy (NLD), with seemingly little or less provision being offered for the rigging of the poll as allegedly occurred in last year’s election.

Many had erroneously predicted that the NUP would play a decisive role in balancing the power of the USDP out but despite performing far better than any so called democratic parties such as the National Democratic Force (NDF), the NUP has so far had little visible impact on Burma’s parliamentary political landscape.
http://www.dvb.no/news/nup-urges-rule-of-law-and-prisoner-release/15379
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Deforestation concerns in the delta
By NAY THWIN
Published: 25 April 2011

Locals in the Irrawaddy Delta’s Bogalay township have expressed concerns about the environment and their livelihoods due to an alleged increase in deforestation in the region.

Retired school teacher Hla Myint, 70, and resident of Bogalay said the growing population in the region had led to a significant deforestation of large trees, leaving locals to cut down smaller palm-type trees for firewood which he said was “not a good sign.”

“[Bogalay] township once flourished with trees but now most forests have turned into farmlands,” said Hla Myint.

“I don’t want to point a finger at this or that person but we are likely to face a serious shortage of firewood – there are so many people cutting down all kinds of trees for firewood including mangrove trees that inhabit the shore areas,” he told DVB.

“Now mangrove is also becoming rare so people are turning to coconut and Areca palm trees. This is not a good sign and is in fact a very dire [situation].”

Hla Myint said the deforestation is triggered by a growing need for firewood, expansion of farmlands due to increased population and rapacious use of timber in the fishing industry.

A local resident, under condition of anonymity claimed the government’s Forestry Department was also contributing to the deforestation by selling permits to cut down trees.

“Now there is no more forest on Mainmahla Island – all trees were cut down for foreign export. Locals have to pay money to the forestry department to cut down trees; from 3000 up to tens of thousands Kyat depending on size of the boat [carrying the load],” said the local.

The government had similarly been accused of profitting from the illegal timber trade from northern forests, whilst rebel armies are also said to fund their war efforts through relentless logging of their remaining jungles.

“There are no more trees decent enough to make firewood so they are turning to palm trees now. If we continue like this, we will run out of trees in the next five years”, said the Bogolay local.

Deforestation of the delta’s mangroves was blamed by some as an exacerbating factor for the scale of damage caused by 2008?s devastating cyclone Nargis.

Bogalay, like many other parts in Burma relies on wood as the main source of energy despite being near to Burma’s lare reserves of natural gas. The area is well-known for being a large distributor of charcoal to across the country.

Burma’s agricultural sector has been accused of being inefficient with its use of land, using more land to meet growing demand instead of intensifying inputs to already used land to increase yields.

Low levels of electrification and poverty mean that roughly 2/3rds of Burma’s population still rely on wood as their main source of energy, according to the NGO Altsean, such a reliance contributes to the rapid rate of deforestation in the country.
http://www.dvb.no/news/deforestation-concerns-in-the-delta/15385
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Burma Oil Exploration Deals With Foreign Firms in the Pipeline: Report
April 24, 2011

Rangoon. Burma’s state oil firm is set to sign contracts with companies from China, Singapore and South Korea for oil and gas exploration, state news media reported.

The New Light of Burma newspaper noted the upcoming deals in a report on a “special projects implementation meeting” headed by President Thein Sein last week in Naypyitaw.

The report on Saturday quoted Energy Minister Than Htay as saying that Burma would cooperate with foreign companies for oil and gas exploration.

The newspaper said Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise would sign contracts with China’s North Petro-Chem Corporation for onshore oil and gas exploration.

It will also sign agreements with Korea-Burma Development and Brilliant Oil Corporation of Singapore for exploration offshore in northwestern Rakhine state and the Tanintharyi region in southeastern Burma.

Deals will also be signed with Singapore’s SNOG and UPR for the mining of shale in eastern Karen state, the daily said.

However, the report did not say when the contracts would be signed or when work on any of the projects would start.

Natural gas is Burma’s largest export earner. The country has huge gas reserves and is conducting oil and gas exploration with local and foreign firms in 49 onshore and 26 offshore blocks.

Burma exports natural gas from its two major offshore gas fields in the Gulf of Martaban, with neighboring Thailand being the primary market.

The exploration contracts will be among the first major ones signed with foreign enterprises under the nominally civilian government installed last month.

Ex-military figures and allies dominate the current leadership, and critics say the November election was orchestrated to perpetuate military power in a country ruled by the junta since 1962.

The government says the election was part of the country’s road map to democracy and has urged Western nations to lift long-standing political and economic sanctions imposed because of Burma’s poor human rights record.

Associated Press http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/burma-oil-exploration-deals-with-foreign-firms-in-the-pipeline-report/437100
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Burma Set to Ink Int'l Energy Contracts

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Monday, April 25, 2011

RANGOON — Burma's state oil firm is set to sign contracts with companies from China, Singapore and South Korea for oil and gas exploration, state media reported Saturday.

The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper noted the upcoming deals in a report on a "special projects implementation meeting" headed by President Thein Sein on Friday in the capital, Naypyidaw. The report cited Energy Minister Than Htay saying Burma, also known as Myanmar, will cooperate with foreign companies for oil and gas exploration.

The newspaper said Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise will sign contracts with China's North Petro-Chem Corporation Ltd for onshore oil and gas exploration.

It will also sign agreements with Korea-Myanmar Development Co. Ltd and Brilliant Oil Corporation Pte Ltd of Singapore for oil and gas exploration offshore in northwestern Arakan (Rakhine) state and the Tanintharyi region in southeastern Burma.

In addition, agreements will be signed with Singapore's SNOG Pte. Ltd and UPR Pte. Ltd for the mining of shale in eastern Karen state, the report said.

The report did not say when the contracts would be signed or when work on any of the projects would start.

Natural gas is Burma's largest export earner. Burma has huge gas reserves and is conducting oil and gas exploration with local and foreign companies in 49 onshore blocks and 26 offshore blocks.

Burma exports natural gas from its two major offshore gas fields in the Gulf of Martaban, with neighboring Thailand being the primary market. China National Petroleum Corp. is building a 771-kilometer (481 mile) pipeline from northwestern Rakhine state to China's Yunnan province.

The exploration contracts will be among to be the first major ones signed with foreign enterprises under the nominally civilian government installed last month.

Former military figures and allies dominate the current leadership, and critics say the November election was orchestrated to perpetuate military power in the country that's been military ruled since 1962.

The government says the election was part of Burma's roadmap to democracy and has urged Western nations to lift long-standing political and economic sanctions imposed because of the country's poor human rights record. The US has said lifting sanctions would be premature.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21165
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European firms seize on Suu Kyi release to hunt profit in Burma
By Andrew Buncombe and Joseph Allchin
Monday, 25 April 2011

The luxury crystal and jewellery house Swarovski was among two dozen European companies that recently visited Burma on a controversial business trip that activists say broke the spirit, if not the letter, of recently renewed EU sanctions.


The Austrian ambassador to Thailand and Burma, Dr Johannes Peterlik, headed the delegation, which his embassy said was an "economic fact-finding trip" and involved no contact with Burmese government officials. The trip ended with dinner at a luxury golf resort outside Rangoon, hosted by a leading Burmese businessman who has good relations with the country's military rulers.

EU sanctions do not constitute a blanket ban on trade with Burma, which experts say remains controlled by the nation's military, despite a flawed recent election and the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. But they are designed to tightly restrict trade in certain areas, including arms, gems and timber.

In addition to Swarovski, which described itself in a PowerPoint presentation prepared for its Burmese hosts and obtained by The Independent as "one of the world's leading producers of cut crystal, genuine gemstones and created stones", the Austrian delegation included P & P Consulting, which called itself a defence and security consultant looking for "industry or government customers" and Roxel RMG, which trades in "forest products".

Campaigners accused businesses of seizing on the recent release of Ms Suu Kyi, long a symbol of the Burmese government's oppression, to justify bolstering trade links with the nation, despite continuing human rights abuses.

"European trade delegations may not break the letter of sanctions law but they certainly break the spirit of EU policy," said Mark Farmaner, of the Burma Campaign UK. "Some EU members are trying to spin the release of Ms Suu Kyi and last year's rigged election as an excuse to argue things have changed, and so it's OK to do business now, but the human rights situation is getting worse, not better. Any European companies going into Burma not only risk association with a government committing crimes against humanity, but also high profile boycott campaigns in their own countries."

Last month's visit highlights the weakness of the EU sanctions system. A senior EU official said it was primarily up to individual countries to enforce the rules. Earlier this month, the EU renewed a series of sanctions against the Burmese regime but certain member states, including Italy, Austria and Germany, have reportedly pushed for them to be diluted.

With China, India, South Korea and Thailand already well established in Burma, which has rich energy supplies and natural resources, several Western corporations are pressing to enter the market. Around two dozen EU diplomats last month met Ms Suu Kyi to discuss the issue of sanctions. She and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), argue they should remain for now, believing ordinary people are not harmed by them. "Targeted sanctions serve as a warning that acts contrary to basic norms of justice and human rights cannot be committed with impunity," said the NLD.

Asked about the visit, the head of the regional EU delegation, David Lippman, said: "Currently, there are no broad-based EU trade or investment sanctions in place against Burma. However, certain sectoral prohibitions are in place. These restrictive measures comprise inter alia an arms embargo as well as restrictions in the timber, precious stones and mining sectors."

The Austrian embassy in Thailand, insisted it had not broken sanctions, describing the visit as "an economic fact-finding trip" organised by the Austrian Economic Chamber of Commerce. The Austrian foreign ministry said there was no plan to ignore sanctions.

Swarovski failed to respond to several requests for a comment. Thomas Polacek, Asia sales manager for Roxel RMG, said he believed Burma had become a "Chinese colony" with any major projects undertaken by Chinese firms. "If, as Europeans, we want to sit back and watch others do business, that is one way... but there is a big debate within Brussels about this," he said.

Meanwhile, Sred Plattner, of P&P Consulting, said the company's interests were focussed on security rather than defence and that it had been looking at the option of providing security for airports. This in itself could raise further questions: Rangoon's international airport is operated by Pioneer Aerodrome Services, described by local media as an affiliate of Asia World, Burma's largest company, headed by former drug kingpin Lo Hsing Han, who is included in a US travel ban.

The delegation, which was met by the Union of Myanmar Federation Chamber of Commerce, also included a commodity trading company, a manufacturer of firefighting machines, a leading bank and a health care specialist. Campaigners say companies need to be aware of the context in which they may be operating. "The severity and scope of human rights impacts of business activity in Burma vary by sector and location. The military-led extractive industries still present the biggest risks to local communities' human rights and also happen to be the most attractive to western business interests," said Matthew Smith, of EarthRights International. "Most of Burma's lucrative minerals, timber, gas, and precious stones are located in ethnic states or need to be transported through ethnic areas to reach markets, which is still problematic despite any perceived political changes in the country."

The trip, which campaigners believe may be the first of several from EU countries, included a site visit to Rangoon's Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone where delegates toured a pharmaceutical factory and the city's famed Shwedagon pagoda.

The trip concluded with a visit to the luxury Pun Hlaing golf estate owned by Burmese real estate mogul Serge Pen. Mr Pen has a reputation for steering clear of corruption, despite having good relations with the ruling generals. Both he and Mr Peterlik gave a presentation and the visit ended with dinner. A photograph on the website of Mr Pen's company shows him handing a painting of a traditional Burmese pagoda to the smiling ambassador.

History of the sanctions against Burma

1993: Arms sales to Burma are banned by US government. Later this ban is widened to include all investment.


1996: European Union bans member countries from selling arms to Burma and forbids all aid except for humanitarian assistance. Restrictions are imposed on travel by senior Burmese government figures.


2003: The US imposes a ban on all imports from Burma. The legislation is criticised for leaving loopholes for teak and gem exports, both major foreign currency earners for Burma.


2007: Japan cuts aid to Burma.


2008: The US passes legislation which specifically targets the import of precious stones from Burma, even if through a third country.


2009: Barack Obama renews the sanctions against Burma. The EU also tightens its sanctions in response to Aung San Suu Kyi's continued house arrest.



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