B U R M A U P D A T E

8 Fe bruary 2011

SANCTIONS ON BURMA
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY (NLD)
Ignoring the fact that it has been disbanded by the military government, Aung San Suu
Kyi’s National League for Democracy ( NLD ) this afternoon threw down a major challenge
to the military junta by issuing a six-page statement entitled “Sanctions on Burma” in
which the NLD gave its thorough review on the origin of sanctions imposed on Burma
(Myanmar) by western countries, the effects of these sanctions and the best way of lift-
ing these sanctions.

Recalling that sanctions have been imposed on Burma by the United States, member
countries of the European Union, New Zealand and Australia with the aim of putting an
end to human rights violations, promoting democratic values and practices, discouraging
the military government from oppressing the people, the NLD’s statement touched on the
ongoing sessions of hluttaws (parliaments) in Nay Pyi Taw.

“The legislative assemblies that have emerged as a result of the 2010 elections are to-
tally dominated, at all the national and regional levels, by the combined body of the Union
Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was founded by the State Peace and De-
velopment Council (SPDC) and the non-elected military representatives nominated by the
Commander-in-Chief,” said the NLD statement.

“Moves to designate these assemblies (meaning Hluttaws) as the only permitted field for
political play reduces democratization in Burma to a parody (weak imitation of democ-
racy),” the NLD statement charged.

In trying to prove that the country does not come to the point of enjoying democratic
rights, the NLD statement condemned the dismissal of NLD’s special appeal against its
registration by the Supreme Court as an indication of an attempt to limit political activi-
ties in the country to a minimum.

Urgently calling for an all inclusive political process, the NLD statement said: “The partici-
pation of a broad spectrum of political forces is essential to the achievement of national
reconciliation in Burma. Progress in the democratization process, firmly grounded in
national reconciliation, and the release of political prisoners should be central to any con-
sideration of changes in sanctions policies.”

The NLD statement then summarized the NLD’s views with regard to sanctions as follows:

1.    The United States, member countries of the European Union, Canada, New Zealand
and Australia imposed sanctions on Burma to effect improvements in the human rights
situation and to promote democratic values.
2.    Available evidence indicates the economic conditions within the country have not
been affected by sanctions to any notable degree.

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3.    As the major causes of sanctions are violations of human rights and lack of demo-
cratic practices, it is by dealing effectively with these issues that the removal of sanc-
tions can best be effected.
4.    We therefore urge the government of Burma to take necessary steps speedily and
assiduously.
5.    The NLD calls for discussions with the United States, the European Union, Canada
and Australia with a view to reaching agreement on when, how and under what circum-
stances sanctions might be modified in the interests of democracy, human rights and a
healthy economic environment.

Pointing out the way the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) had pinpointed poor eco-
nomic policies and mismanagement as the main causes of the ills of Burma’s economy,
the NLD statement further charged that sanctions had in some ways only affected mem-
bers of the military junta and their associates, who the NLD said had been denied access
to the United States financial system.

The NLD’s statement gave details on foreign exchange earnings from year to year as a
result of natural gas exports as well as figures of foreign direct investment saying that
the economic system being practiced is plagued by lack of accountability and corruption.

Appendix - NLD’s Economic Sanctions on Burma in Burmese

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Appendix - Economic Sanctions on Burma

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End of Appendix

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