Bush Signs Burma Jade Act, Adds to Sanction’s List

WASHINGTON — US President George Bush on Tuesday signed into law the Burma Jade Act, restricting the import of precious Burmese gems and stones and extended existing import sanctions on Burma.

As many as 10 Burmese companies were added to the sanction’s list.

Political observers said the US is sending a message not only to the Burmese regime but also to China, a major supporter of the military junta.

The move was welcomed by Burmese leaders in exile and human rights organizations.

US President George W Bush looks back at Annette Lantos, the wife of late Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) after Bush signed HJ Res. 93, the renewal of import restrictions on Burma and HR 3890, the Tom Lantos block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2008 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 29. (Photo: Reuters)

"We are tightening financial sanctions against Burma's repressive junta and the companies that finance it," said Office of Foreign Assets Control Director Adam Szubin.

"The regime's refusal to protect and allow relief to reach the Burmese people as Cyclone Nargis devastated their country is but another example of the regime's heartless neglect of its people," Szubin said, after announcing the list of Burmese companies.

The Department of Treasury said the sanctions target two conglomerates, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEH) and the Myanmar Economic Corporation. Both have extensive businesses in a variety of sectors critical to the Burmese government, including the gem, banking and construction industries.

Four of UMEH's subsidiary companies—Myanmar Ruby Enterprise, Myanmar Imperial Jade Company Ltd., Myawaddy Trading Ltd., and Myawaddy Bank Ltd—have been added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list.
The sanctions also target the No 1 Mining Enterprise, No 2 Mining Enterprise and No 3 Mining Enterprise, all owned by the Burmese Ministry of Mines.

The Cooperative Import-Export Enterprise, a trading company under the Burmese Ministry of Cooperatives, was also sanctioned.

The sanctions freeze all assets subject to US jurisdiction of the designated businesses persons and prohibit all financial and commercial transactions by any US person with the designated persons.

Arvind Ganesan, the director of Business and Human Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, said: "Burmese gemstones are tainted by gross human rights abuses. The jewelry industry should take firm action to assure its customers—as well as law enforcement officials—that it is doing all it can to avoid buying from Burma."

Bush and his wife are scheduled to meet with Burmese politicians and activists in Bangkok during their trip to Thailand prior to the start of the Beijing Olympics.

US first lady Laura Bush has an unconfirmed plan to visit with the Burmese community including Dr Cynthia Maung’s migrant clinic in Mae Sot, a border town in Tak Province, Thailand.

During his last visit to Asia before his term as president expires, Bush and his wife will also meet with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to commemorate 175 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bush met with prominent Chinese activists at the White House on Tuesday “to discuss his concern about human rights in China,” and he promise that he would carry that concern to Beijing where he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintoa, according to a White House spokesperson.

Violet Cho contributed to this story.