Written by U Ne Oo on 1997-05-09
UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
799 United Nations Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10017
May 9, 1997
Dr U Ne Oo
48/2 Ayliffes Road
St. Marys SA 5042
Australia
Dear Dr. U Ne Oo:
Thank you for forwarding your letter about Burma to the Ambassador. The United States Government shares your concern about the situation in Burma, which we would like to see evolve into a democratic and open law-abiding society.
As you may know, on April 22, President Clinton announced his decision to impose a ban on new U.S. investments in Burma under the terms of the Cohen-Fenstein amendment. It is the President's judgement that recent actions by the SLORC constitute large-scale repression of the democratic opposition there. In addition to the Cohen-Feinstein sanction, the U.S. has suspended all assistance to Burma, imposed an arms embargo, blocked assistance from international financial institutions and adopted visa restrictions on SLORC leaders and their families.
We will continue to press the SLORC to begin a direct dialogue with Aung San suu Kyi, and to urge the NLD to democratize Burma. We also demand that the SLORC lift restrictions on the rights of Burmese tot restrictions on the rights of Burmese to orgainze and demonstrate peacefully and release persons detained for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. We maintain close contact with Burmese democratic leaders, in part to demonstrate publicly U.S. support for democracy.
We hope that these and other efforts encourage the end of repression in Burma. Thank you again for your letter.
Sincerely,
Sd. Alison HUnter
Public Affairs.
