PM rejects sanctions on Burmese gems

       Thailand is continuing to oppose sanctions against Burma's gems to put more pressure on the military regime after the sentence imposed on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week.
       Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday Thailand had no problem with other countries beefing up arms sanctions against Burma but banning gems would affect the Kingdom.
       Thailand and China are the two main importers of gems from Burma. The US has banned imports of rubies, jade and other stones direct from Burma and through third countries.
       Mr Abhisit made clear Thailand's position on gems sanctions in talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Bangkok on July 21.
       Burma faces stiffer sanctions after it confined Mrs Suu Kyi to her house for a further 18 months. A court found her guilty of violating the terms of her house arrest when US national John Yettaw swam across a lake to stay uninvited at her villa for two days in May.
       The Burma issue is on the agenda at a meeting today in Manila between Mr Abhisit and Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.
       British ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle said after talks with Mr Abhisit
       that more measures would be imposed on Burma if the junta continued to ignore calls for Mrs Suu Kyi's release.
       "We will consider measures shortly [to put more pressure on Burma] because the international community disagrees with this kind of verdict," Mr Quayle said after his meeting with the prime minister.
       Britain now holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council.
       "I think Prime Minister Abhisit and his foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, will have to hold talks with all Asean country leaders in order to find out what next steps can be taken, apart from issuing a [Asean] statement," Mr Quayle said.As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Thailand released a statement on Wednesday in which it expressed "deep disappointment" at the Burmese court's ruling on Tuesday and stressed Burma hold free and fair elections by including all political parties when the country goes to the polls next year.
       Meanwhile, US Democrat Senator Jim Webb is due to meet Burma's chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Than Shwe later this week in the first encounter between a senior US official and the junta strongman, Mr Webb's office said yesterday.