[House Document 108-5]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-5


 
    PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO BURMA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  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)




January 7, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, November 26, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: 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 6-month periodic report prepared by 
my Administration on the national emergency with respect to 
Burma that was declared in Executive Order 13047 of May 20, 
1997.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.
    Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Burma

    This is a report to the Congress on development 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 pursuant to 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).
    1. In the 6-month period since May 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.
    2. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 
6-month period from May 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 $5,000, 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.
    3. Although the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house 
arrest in May 2002, her travel around the country and the 
subsequent freeing of more than 50 political prisoners were 
positive steps, they have not been matched by equally serious 
steps towards a political dialogue on constitutional issues, 
including how to recognize the results of the 1990 elections. 
We are concerned that a loss of momentum will cause this 
encouraging process to falter. In part because of a lack of 
transparency in the discussions between Aung San Suu Kyi and 
the regime, serious doubt remains regarding the government's 
overall commitment to political transition. Many political 
prisoners are still behind bars and widespread abuses of human 
rights continue. Particularly troubling are the widespread 
serious abuses in ethnic regions including forced labor, forced 
relocations, torture, and rape. Significant but still 
insufficient steps have been taken to counter narcotic 
production and trafficking. Although opium production has 
fallen for five consecutive years, Burma remains the second 
largest producer of opium in the world.
    The Burmese regime has not made significant progress toward 
fundamental improvement in the quality of life for the people 
of Burma. The government's efforts to maintain discipline and 
control, and exclude foreign expertise and participation, have 
had disastrous results, and a hostile investment climate 
prevails. Despite having significant arrears to the 
international financial institutions, Burma has signed a 
contract for a nuclear reactor it can ill afford. Looking 
ahead, there is really no prospect for relief for Burma without 
foreign financing and investment. The problems within the 
economy, and particularly within the fiscal budget, are simply 
too vast and too deeply entrenched to be treated now in the 
basis of Burma's own resources. Because many of the problems 
are caused by the severe repression of the regime, access to 
that foreign financing support will depend on progress in 
regard to structural reforms and political transition. 
Democracy, national reconciliation, and improved human rights 
will allow reintegration with the international community and 
bring the freedom, security, and prosperity which the people of 
Burma long for and deserve.
    The United States will closely monitor the situation within 
Burma as developments unfold. We continue to work 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. I shall continue to exercise the 
powers at my disposal to deal with this unusual and 
extraordinary threat and will continue to report periodically 
to the Congress on significant developments as required by law.

                                
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