GOA UPDATES SANCTIONS LIST FOR INDIVIDUALS

UNCLAS CANBERRA 001064 SIPDIS EAP/MLS AARON COPE, IO/UNP PAUL WICKBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM AS SUBJECT: GOA UPDATES SANCTIONS LIST FOR INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH BURMESE REGIME ¶1. (U) Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced October 22 that Australia had added new members of the Burmese regime who are subject to government of Australia (GOA) financial sanctions, bringing the total to 463. (Note. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) signaled to post in July that the list was under review. End note). Citing the ongoing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Smith said that GOA has deep concerns about the Burmese regime's refusal to engage in genuine dialogue with opposition groups and ethnic minorities. Smith remarked at the apparent disingenuousness of the constitutional referendum held in the wake Cyclone Nargis. He called the process a "matter of regret". He said that GOA will continue to press the regime for meaningful political progress towards democracy. To that end Smith asserted that it is the "Australian Government's strong view that sanctions need to be kept current and focused for maximum impact". ¶2. (U) Smith said that the revised list of individuals subject to sanctions grew from 418 to 463, as a result of removing 18 persons from the list and adding 63, for a net increase of 45. Changes in the list were based on personnel movements within the regime. The list, which can be found on http://www.rba.gov.au/MediaReleases/2008/mr 08 23 annex.html, includes members of the State Peace and Development Council, ministers, senior military officers, prominent business associates of the regime and immediate family members of these individuals. Enforcement of the sanctions in relation to the new list begins immediately. Citing the humanitarian crisis that continues unabated by the regime Smith called on ASEAN to continue it's humanitarian efforts in post-Cyclone Nargis Burma. CLUNE