[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 20 (Monday, May 26, 2008)]
[Page 715]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Notice--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Burma

May 16, 2008

    On May 20, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13047, 
certifying to the Congress under section 570(b) of the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
1997 (Public Law 104-208), that the Government of Burma has engaged in 
large-scale repression of the democratic opposition in Burma after 
September 30, 1996, thereby invoking the prohibition on new investment 
in Burma by United States persons contained in that section. The 
President also declared a national emergency to deal with the threat 
posed to the national security and foreign policy of the United States 
by the actions and policies of the Government of Burma, invoking the 
authority, inter alia, of the International Emergency Economic Powers 
Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.
    On July 28, 2003, I issued Executive Order 13310 taking additional 
steps with respect to that national emergency by putting in place an 
import ban required by the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 and 
prohibiting exports of financial services to Burma and the dealing in 
property in which certain designated Burmese persons have an interest. 
On October 18, 2007, I issued Executive Order 13448 to expand 
prohibitions to include the Burmese regime's financial supporters and 
their companies, as well as individuals determined to be responsible for 
or to have participated in human rights abuses or to have engaged in 
activities facilitating public corruption. On April 30, 2008, I issued 
Executive Order 13464 taking additional steps with respect to the 
Government of Burma's continued repression of the democratic opposition 
in Burma.
    Because the actions and policies of the Government of Burma continue 
to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and 
foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on 
May 20, 1997, and expanded on October 18, 2007, and April 30, 2008, and 
the measures adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in 
effect beyond May 20, 2008. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) 
of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 
1 year the national emergency with respect to Burma. This notice shall 
be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 May 16, 2008.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:03 a.m., May 16, 
2008]

Note: This notice was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 17, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 19.