US eases sanctions for Myanmar nonprofit work
Apr 17, 2012, 5:05 PM
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States on Tuesday eased financial sanctions on Myanmar to enable private U.S.-based groups to do charity work in the impoverished country.
The announcement by the Treasury Department is the first of a series of rewards from Washington in response to the military-dominated country holding by-elections this month that were swept by the opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi.
The changes are intended to support development and humanitarian assistance. Five decades of military rule turned what was once among the most prosperous nations in Southeast Asia into its poorest.
Treasury eased restrictions on financial transactions in support of private groups working on areas such as democracy-building, health and education, sport and religious activities.
Over the past three years, the Obama administration shifted from the long-standing U.S. policy of isolating Myanmar, and has said it will “meet action with action” _ gradually easing sanctions to reciprocate the government’s reforms.
The U.S. also plans to send a full ambassador for the first time in more than two decades, and to ease restrictions on American investment and the export of other financial services. The U.S. retains tough trade sanctions.
Other Western nations are taking similar steps.
Australia on Monday said it will lift financial and travel restrictions for more than 260 people in Myanmar, including President Thein Sein, but will keep its arms embargo and sanctions against around 130 other people, including military officials.
Next week the European Union is expected to discuss suspending its economic sanctions. Such a step by the EU would put pressure on the U.S. to do likewise, for competitive business reasons.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, said the U.S. is likely to ease investment restrictions in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, telecommunications and banking. But it would retain bans on sectors such as natural resources and precious stones perceived to be closed linked to the military. Oil, natural gas and timber are key money earners for the country, also known as Burma.
Lifting sanctions entirely will be contingent on the government consolidating the reforms. The military is still the dominant political force in the country and severe rights abuses are still reported in ethnic minority regions. Despite the release of hundreds of political prisoners in recent months, others remain in detention.
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