Gandar Mount P.S.O

Bush signs law to ban gems trade

WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush on 29 July 2008 renewed a ban on imports from military-ruled Burma and also signed a new law that aims to keep Burma’s Gems from entering US markets via third-party countries.

In parallel the US treasury slapped financial sanctions on 10 companies owned or controlled by the Burmese Government or Government officials, including companies involved in the gem trade.

“On the Burmese regime,our message is: the United States believes in democracy and freedom,” Mr. Bush said during a White House ceremony in which he signed the two laws.

The Burmese freedom and Democracy Act renews a sanctions regime imposed since 2003 over the suppression of opposition leader Aung Sun Sukyi’s democracy movement.

Mr Bush also signed a new sanctions regime aimed at stopping gems including jade and rubies from entering the United State via third nations such as Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.

The so-called Tom Lantos Block Burmese jade Act will deprive its ruling junta of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.

The gems trade is one of the most lucrative sources of profit for the Junta, accused of blatant human rights abuses and stifling democratic opposition.

The bill also makes the generals and their families ineligible for visas to the United States and enhances existing financial sanctions against the regime.

It includes new reporting requirements that will provide greater transparency about the Junta in terms of financial holdings,information about countries that provide military aid to the regime,and background on Burma’s timber trade.

The US sanctions targeted two state-controlled conglomerates, the Union of Burma Economic Holdings Limited and the Burma Economic Corporation, which are both involved in the gem trade, banking and construction directly and through subsidiaries. AFP

About two years after being surrendered arms Khun Sa and Khin Nyunt had oppotunity to be friends while there were many chanels for doing profitable business in Burma.

Khun Nuynt however had already made friends with the Wa group UWSA headed by Bao U Shan and Pao U Hua based in Bang Hsang near the Chinese border.

Khin Nyunt had been providing protection and facilities for this group.

He visited Bang Hsang by military helicopter once a year to collect money from the Wa who broke away from the Burmese Communist Party and made peace with Government through Khin Nyunt since 1989.

There fore, Wa had to be sided with Gen. Khin Nyunt.

Although Khun Sa and Wa are being the bitter enymies.

The General Khin Nyunt in the Military Government named a special intelligence service, which had disagreed by Gen. Than Shwe and Gen. Mong Aye, aiming for personal security.

His intelligence service harassed and scared the various nations throughout the country.

To do the personal business both set a man trusted by Khun Sa called him as “Ai Phar” half Shan-half Chinese, to work for them.

Ai Phar, American citizen, aged currenly about 50, long time living in Baltimal, Maryland U.S.A, had made drug business for Khun Sa since before surrendered.

He bears the paper signed by Gen. Khin Nyunt .The paper is to show the Burmese authorities when he entered Burma.

He is helping imported new cars and sold them in Rangoon.

Two sons of the General involved with the drug trafficking business were imprisoned while the father is under house arrest on charge of corrupsion.

The Wa group had to be strictly controlled by the Gen. Mong Aye.

Khin Nyunt as the Prime Minster of Burma is resposible for the imported construction materials costed 4,000 millions baht from Thailand during Tuksin’s Government.

The Burmese Junta had rejected to consider the 4,000 millions.

The Burmese Military Rulers had since a decade ago been trying to demoralize the American soldiers and youths by abusing drugs because of the US Government had been interfering with its administration of the government.

Uprising in the country had to be occurred time after time as the Washinton D.C forced Rangoon to change its long-standing policy of humanright abused in the country and to practice democracy.

The US’s policy is intented to provide assistance to only Democratic country, but the Burmese ignores the US’s intentionally aid.

The US had ignored the Burmese’s officially offer that it could destroy the opium production in the Shan State within 15 years if the US Government provide financial assistance.

The US autority instead provided 300 millions US dollar to Thai anti-narcotic authorities for drugs eradicatoion.

In mid 1993 another financil aid, 250 millions dollars for the drugs eradiction, to Thais provided by US Ambassador to Thailand Mr.David Lambutson.

This conduct made both Khun Sa and the Burmese Junta shocked.The consecutive American Government rejected to consider Khun Sa’s asking for US assistance as rebeatedly.

For this count, Khun Sa has non-stop drugs transported to the American People.