NEWS-Japan Myanmar Envoy Criticises

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS-Japan Myanmar Envoy Criticises U.S. Sanctions Move

Japan Myanmar Envoy Criticises U.S. Sanctions Move

               Reuters
               21-MAY-99

               TOKYO, May 21 (Reuters) - Myanmar ambassador to Japan
               Khin Maung Thein on Friday criticised U.S. sanctions on
his
               country, saying the move was not to the advantage of
either
               nation. Thein also denied U.S. allegations of repression
and
               human rights abuse. 

               "The actual situation is very much different," he told a
news
               conference. "The government may be a military junta, but
               they are also Buddhist, guided by the principles of love
and
               compassion." 

               On Tuesday, U.S. President Bill Clinton extended
sanctions
               on Myanmar for another year for what he called
large-scale
               repression of the democratic opposition. 

               In a letter to Congress, Clinton said his decision
continued a
               "prohibition on new investment" in Myanmar, formerly
Burma,
               by Americans. The old sanctions expired on Thursday. 

               In February, the United States criticised Myanmar for
serious
               human rights violations including torture, arbitrary
detentions
               and forced labour. 

               A State Department report said the ruling generals ran a
               highly authoritarian military regime which was holding
more
               than 1,000 political prisoners.