    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 25, 2008]
    [Pages 264-265]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Situation in Burma
    February 25, 2008

        The situation in Burma remains deplorable. The regime has rejected
    calls from its own people and the international community to begin a
    genuine dialogue with the opposition and ethnic minority groups. Arrests
    and secret trials of peaceful political activists continue, such as the
    recent arrest of journalists Thet Zin and Sein Win
    Maung. Severe human rights abuses by the
    Burmese Army, including burning down homes and killing civilians,
    continue in ethnic minority areas in eastern Burma.
        The United States continues to seek a peaceful transition to a
    democratic government that will promote stability and prosperity in
    Burma and in the region. We support continued engagement by the U.N.
    Security Council and United Nations Secretary-General Ban's good offices mission, as well as sustained regional
    engagement.
        As one element of our policy to promote a genuine democratic
    transition, the U.S. maintains targeted sanctions that focus on the
    assets of regime members and their cronies who grow rich while Burma's
    people suffer under their misrule. Therefore, today the Department of
    the Treasury has applied financial sanctions against Steven Law, a regime crony also suspected of drug trafficking
    activities, and his financial network, including his wife, father, and 14 companies,
    pursuant to Executive Order 13448.
        Additionally, the Department of the Treasury has applied sanctions
    to two resorts owned and operated by known regime crony and arms
    merchant Tay Za, himself designated for sanctions in
    October 2007. Today's actions add to the 33 individuals and 11 entities
    previously designated. Furthermore, as a result of the enhanced visa
    restrictions that I announced in September 2007, 898 Burmese officials
    and their family members are now subject to visa restrictions.

    [[Page 265]]

        Concerted international pressure is needed to achieve a genuine
    transition to democracy in Burma. We encourage Burma's neighbors and
    other stakeholders in Southeast Asia to impress upon the regime the need
    to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, to end military offensives and human rights abuses
    against ethnic minorities, and to begin a genuine transition to
    democracy in response to the demonstrated aspirations of all the peoples
    of Burma.

    Note: The statement referred to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the
    United Nations; Cecilia Ng, wife, and Lo Hsing Han, father, of Steven
    Law; and Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy
    in Burma.