Australia today imposed financial sanctions on Burma's generals and their families as supporters of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 12 years in captivity with protests in 12 cities across the world.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the measures, in response to last month's bloody crackdown on the biggest democracy protests in two decades, would hit 418 people, including junta leader Senior General Than Shwe.
Protesters outside the Chinese Embassy in London wear the mask of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
"These new measures are designed to put further pressure on the regime and its supporters while avoiding harm to the people of Burma," Mr Downer said in a statement.
Given that two-way trade with Burma amounted to just €34 million in 2006, the measures appear to be aimed mainly at junta family members going to Australian schools and universities.
Mirroring tough restrictions imposed by the United States, the sanctions are a rare example of a government taking concrete action against the junta, which has so far only come under verbal pressure from its regional neighbours.
However, the marking of 12 cumulative years in custody for Nobel laureate Suu Kyi gave an added twist to street protests against the generals as UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari started the Chinese leg of a regional tour.
Twelve white-robed protesters in Suu Kyi masks stood outside the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, trying to force Beijing in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics to nudge its wayward southern neighbour and friend towards reform.
"China, China, go, go," the protesters chanted, along with "Free Burma" and "Free Aung San Suu Kyi".
Protests at 12 noon local time were planned for 12 cities - London, Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Vienna, Sydney, Washington, Toronto, New York, Brasilia, Bangkok and Cape Town.
Suu Kyi, 62, won the Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest in 1991, a year after her National League for Democracy (NLD) won an election landslide only to be denied power by the army that has ruled unchecked since a 1962 coup.