Burma, More Forceful Sanctions May be Needed

On December 19 the Senate approved "The Burma Democracy Promotion Act", this places a new round of sanctions as well as travel restriction on Junta leaders and associates. The act also effectively outlaws the importing of gems and timber from Myanmar. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman, Joe Biden was quoted as saying, "The message to the people of Burma today is clear: The United States stands with you as you seek a peaceful, negotiated, transition to democratic civilian rule." A week earlier, U.S. President George W. Bush threatened to lead a a global campaign of sanctions against Myanmar If the Junta continues to defy calls for democratic rule.

It appears that more drastic steps may be necessary as today "The Democratic Voice Of Burma" is reporting that government brigade 66 continues to conscript new recruits by force. Brigade 66 is demanding that each village tract contribute one new recruit or pay 1500 Kyat (local currency) per household if they fail to do so. A villager from Chaung Gwa village in Nattalin township is quoted as saying “Our village group, which consists of four villages, had to pay 900,000 kyat to the military to hire a mercenary. We do not dare to complain about it,”

Meanwhile in Sibaw and Kyauk Mae townships in northern Shan state it is reported that local military brigades are demanding one new recruit from every household that has at least one male member.Failure to comply results in the family having to pay 100,000 kyat, a price many simply can not afford.

In other news from Burma today, Myo Thant or John Naw Thar as he is also known and two others, university student Zin Lin Aung and protester Htin Kyaw have been place in solitary confinement for staging a hunger strike while being held in Insein prison. the hunger strike is being staged as a call for the release of political prisoners. The trio reportedly began there strike at the end of November.