US to extend Burma import ban

By Agence France-Press

A key US senate panel voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to renew for one year a ban on imports from Burma over alleged human rights abuses by its military rulers.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 22-1 to extend the sanctions, as has been done each year under a law passed in 2003. The measure still needs approval from the full senate as well as the House of Representatives.

Democratic senator Max Baucus, the panel’s chairman, said the ban applied “necessary pressure on the Burmese junta to stop its gross mistreatment of the Burmese people and abide by international human rights standards.”

“As long as the Burmese junta continues to abuse and suppress its people, the United States needs to continue to join our trading partners in standing up for the Burmese people and supporting human rights,” he said in a statement.

The “Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003″ imposes a ban on Burmese imports unless the US president certifies that the country has taken steps toward democratic reforms and to help fight international drug smuggling.

Reference:

This is from DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) by the author Agence France-Press.

My opinion:

It is good to use coercion on the junta, but be aware that if the junta needs something, he will cheat and again torture the civilians. So, at last, the ones who would suffer most would be the civilians. So, make sure not to hurt the civilians with whatever you want to force the junta.