Brussels, 18/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC) have stepped up their criticism of the Burmese regime “for continued human rights violations perpetrated there”. Following the ASEM summit (EUROPE 12 October pp 6-7), the two organizations find it surprising that European and Asian leaders have not called on the Burmese authorities to release Ms Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and several other leaders of the opposition NLD party”. They also have doubts about the effectiveness of the EU announced sanctions, particularly on those affecting foreign investment, “the lack of urgency regarding suitable clarification involving interpretation of these new measures means that there is a danger of these measures being rendered null and void”. In connections with the results of the summit itself, the trade unions support the “recommendations by ASEM leaders for extensive expansion of Asia-Europe dialogue on work and jobs” and hope that it will focus on the principle of decent work.