"The US government should not ease sanctions on business activities in Burma until adequate safeguards are in place to prevent new investment from fueling human rights abuses. A US presidential order imposing a ban on investment and financial services in Burma is scheduled to expire on May 20, 2012, unless it is renewed or revised. In early April, in response to Burmese government pledges of reform and electoral gains by Burma?s main opposition party, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the US government was prepared to relax certain business-related sanctions. A new presidential order easing business restrictions is expected to be issued soon. ?The US government should not reward the Burmese government?s nascent and untested changes by allowing an unregulated business bonanza,? said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. ?Tough rules are needed to ensure that new investments benefit the people of Burma and don?t fuel human rights abuses and corruption, or end up strengthening the military?s control over civilian authorities.?..."