Mizzima News

New Delhi (mizzima) – The President of the United States Barack Obama on Tuesday renewed sanctions against military-ruled Burma, including banning of sales and import of Burmese gems into the US.

A brief White House statement on Tuesday said, President Obama has signed the bill into law, which received overwhelming support of the Congress. The law imposes a ban on all imports from Burma for the next three years.

“On July 28, 2009, the President signed into law: H.J. Res. 56, which renews import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003,” the White House statement said.

The sanctions were due to expire this week.

Obama’s renewal of sanctions against the Burmese military regime comes after the Burmese junta on Tuesday said that a verdict on the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be pronounced on Friday.

Aung San Suu Kyi, charged for violating her detention law, could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week, during regional security talks in Thailand’s resort Island of Phuket, called on the Burmese junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi saying if the regime releases her, it would help US reinvest in the impoverished country.

The Burmese Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has remained in detention for 14 of the past 20 years. On Tuesday, the special court in Insein prison said it will come up with a verdict on her on Friday.

Despite severe economic deterioration, Burma produces one of the world’s most expensive rubies.

Though countries including the US, the European Union, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have slapped sanctions on Burma's gems, some Asian nations continue to buy them.