The Myanmar government has rejected a report of the United States on the country's anti-human trafficking efforts, saying that the US-proposed action of economic sanctions is an unjust unilateral measure, according to Tuesday's official press media.

The US State Department's 2006 report on annual trafficking in persons, issued this month, classified Myanmar in the list of countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standard nor making significant efforts in combating trafficking in persons.

"The proposed action of economic sanction based on this false classification is not only unethical and contradicts with international law but also affronts sovereignty and independence of states," the Myanmar Foreign Ministry said in its press release carried on the newspaper New Light of Myanmar.

Noting that Myanmar passed an anti-trafficking in persons law in September 2005 that covers sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, servitude and debt bondage, the release said during the year, the government prosecuted 426 traffickers in 203 cases under the new law and identified 844 victims.

The release criticized US allegation that Myanmar put limitation and restriction on non-governmental and international organizations as well as that the country's efforts to prevent trafficking were inadequate.

The release vowed to continue to exert utmost endeavors to combat trafficking in persons regardless of negative views and responses from those who refuse to recognize the on-going efforts of the Myanmar government.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)