Myanmar slams sanctions, blames woes on Britain

Myanmar Sunday blamed its substantial cache of internal problems on Britain and urged its former colonial ruler to stop "further destabilising" the military state with crippling economic sanctions.
In a strongly worded statement, the military junta slammed London for promoting "poverty, instability and social chaos" in the Southeast Asian state and urged it not to meddle in its internal affairs.
"Even after the British troops left Myanmar more than 50 years ago after granting Myanmar independence, Britain's continued animosity towards the people of Myanmar by imposition of economic sanctions to promote poverty, instability and social chaos is regrettable," the junta said.
"The government of Myanmar together with its people encourages Britain to be a positive partner in democracy and prosperity, and to respect the independence and the sovereignty of a nation and a nation's rights to shape its own destiny," it added.
"We also would like to urge Britain to refrain from further destabilising the evolution currently taking place in Myanmar towards democracy."
Two weeks ago Myanmar launched a convention to help draft a new constitution, billed as step one in a seven-step "roadmap to democracy" announced last August by Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt.
Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition, led by detained Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has boycotted the forum, and Western governments and rights groups have derided the process as a sham.
The European Union, which includes Britain, strengthened sanctions against Myanmar last June, shortly after Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into custody following a deadly clash between her supporters and a junta-backed mob.
Sunday marked the anniversary of the May 30 incident, which the government said left four people dead but which dissidents say may have killed up to 100.
EU sanctions comprise an arms embargo, a freezing of assets and a visa ban on a list of Burmese officials.
Last November, cigarette giant British American Tobacco (BAT) pulled out of Myanmar after heavy pressure from the British government.
Washington also has strict sanctions in place against Myanmar including a ban on new US investments and all financial services, a prohibition of imports, an arms embargo and suspension of all bilateral aid.