[House Document 108-73]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress, House Document
lst Session 108-73
PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY
WITH RESPECT TO BURMA
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A 6-MONTH PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO
BURMA DECLARED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 13047 OF MAY 20, 1997, PURSUANT TO 50
U.S.C. 1641(c) AND 50 U.S.C. 1703(c)
May 20, 2003.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the
Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
As required by section 401(c) of the National Emergencies
Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c), and section 204(c) of the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(c), I am
providing a report prepared by my Administration, covering the
6-month period since November 20, 2002, on the national
emergency with respect to Burma that was declared in Executive
Order 13047 of May 20, 1997.
George W. Bush.
The White House, May 16, 2003.
Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Burma
This report covers developments over the course of the past
6 months concerning the national emergency with respect to
Burma that was declared in Executive Order 13047 of May 20,
1997, pursuant to, inter alia, section 570 of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 1997 (Public Law 104-208) and the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This
report is submitted consistent with section 204(c) of (IEEPA),
50 U.S.C. 1703(c), and section 401(c) of the National
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c).
In the 6-month period since November 20, 2002, the
Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) has issued no specific licenses authorizing transactions
otherwise prohibited by the Burmese Sanctions Regulations, 31
C.F.R. Part 537 (the Regulations), and has neither assessed nor
collected any civil monetary penalty for a violation of the
Regulations.
The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 6-
month period from November 20, 2002, that are directly
attributable to the exercise of powers and authorities
conferred by the declaration of a national emergency with
respect to Burma are estimated at approximately $6,500, most of
which represent wage and salary costs for Federal personnel.
Personnel costs were largely centered in the Department of the
Treasury (particularly in the Office of Foreign Assets Control,
the Office of the Under Secretary for Enforcement, and the
Office of the General Counsel) and the Department of State.
Movement toward peaceful democratic change in Burma has
come to a halt. The regime has become more confrontational in
its exchanges with the National League for Democracy (NLD),
lead by Aung San Suu Kyi, and has offered no real signs of
progress toward its stated commitment to a political transition
to democracy. United Nations Special Envoy Razali continued his
mission, the NLD reopened a significant number of township and
divisional party offices, and Aung San Suu Kyi was able to
continue her travels in Burma. However, recent visits were
marred by incidents of harassment. In March 2003, the U.N.
Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma cut his visit short
when he learned that his supposedly confidential discussions
with political prisoners were being monitored by Burmese
authorities. Most seriously, the regime has not demonstrated
its willingness to begin a real dialogue with the NLD on
substantive political issues.
Economic developments over the period were punctuated by a
banking crisis that followed the collapse of approximately 20
informal financial institutions. Stimulated by the rampant
inflation in recent years, these informal financial
institutions had grown rapidly for 2 years, before collapsing
in January, sparking a run on the private banks. The banks have
coped by restricting withdrawals, calling in loans, and
requesting emergency central bank support. The regime's severe
repression and mismanagement of the economy has created a
downward economic spiral and undermined living standards in
Burma. Inflation has priced many goods out of the reach of the
Burmese people, and educational and medical facilities are
limited. The junta has not taken steps to institute the
structural reforms and political transition that are required
for access to foreign financing. We remain concerned about the
growing humanitarian crisis. In 2002, we initiated a $1 million
program to address the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma by
funding international non-governmental organizations to
undertake prevention activities. No assistance is directed to
the regime.
The Government of Burma severely abuses the human rights of
its citizens. There is no real freedom of speech, press,
assembly, association, or travel. Burmese citizens are not free
to change their government. Many political prisoners are still
behind bars. Particularly troubling are the widespread serious
abuses in ethnic regions including torture, rape, forced labor,
and forced relocations. Limited but still insufficient steps
have been taken to counter narcotics productions and
trafficking. Although opium production has fallen for 6
consecutive years. Burma remains the second largest producer of
opium in the world. Burma is also the largest producer of
methamphetamines in the region.
The United States continues to monitor the situation in
Burma closely as developments unfold. We are working with
countries in the region and other friends and allies toward a
restoration of democracy. In doing so, we shall not neglect
urgent humanitarian needs.