Bush threatens further sanctions on Myanmar rulers

By Caren Bohan

ROGERS, Arkansas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush threatened on Monday to impose further U.S. sanctions on Myanmar's military rulers over their crackdown on protests.

"We have sanctioned individuals within Burma and are considering additional sanctions," Bush said during a question-and-answer session with an audience in Rogers, Arkansas. "But sanctions don't mean anything if we're the only sanctioner," he said.

European Union foreign ministers had agreed earlier on Monday to strengthen sanctions against Myanmar's junta and warned they could go further and ban all new investment.

Washington imposed new sanctions last month on senior Myanmar military officials, toughening U.S. measures that had been in place for years but had forced little change, and has been pressing for stronger U.N. action.

Two weeks ago, pro-democracy protests in Myanmar, formerly Burma, were crushed by the Asian nation's military leaders. Many protesters were arrested, and some killed, and police are still raiding homes and arresting activists.

Suggesting growing impatience with the international response to Myanmar, Bush said: "Sometimes international bodies are non-consequential. That is, they're good talking but there's not a consequence. At some point there has to be consequences."

Asked what was needed to bring freedom and democracy to Myanmar, after 45 years of military rule, Bush said, "Enormous international pressure to make it clear to the generals that they will be completely isolated and not accepted into the international community of nations."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey urged China, India and other Asian nations with ties to Yangon to use their influence to get its government to release political prisoners and hold talks with the opposition.