Brussels, 03/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - During a joint hearing of the European Parliament's development committee and the sub-committee on human rights, held on Wednesday 2 April in Brussels, MEPs above all called for better targeted EU sanctions against the Burmese generals' regime, a press release states.
Thijs Berman (PES, NL), who chaired the hearing, notes that, since the “saffron revolution” of autumn 2007, “no-one speaks any more about Burma, even though the situation remains dreadful, human rights are still flouted and there are said to be 1800 political prisoners”. He asked: “How can the international community and the EU exert more influence, and by what means?”
Despite sanctions imposed on Burma and on a number of its leaders (freeze on banking assets), the EU intends to provide €32 million (between 2007 and 2010 through the Development Cooperation Instrument) for health and education in the country. Frijthof Schmidt (Greens/EFA, Germany) believes that sanctions, which have only a limited effect, should be extended to the banking sector for Burmese leaders who conduct their financial business in Singapore, a country which does not support sanctions on Burma. Glenys Kinnock (PES, UK) felt that there should be “a positive alternative to sanctions” and that one should “stop pouring money into this country without getting something in return”. Jose Ribeiro e Castro (EPP-ED, Portugal) suggested that a mix was needed between “strong measures” and “soft measures”. Thijs Berman put forward the idea of an international embargo on arms, which come mainly from China, and a ban on Burma's exports of precious stones.
MEPs argued that the question of Burma should be raised during talks on a free trade agreement and a partnership and cooperation agreement with members of the Association for South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). China and India should also put pressure on the regime in Naypyidaw (the new capital of the country since November 2005).
The EP's international trade committee is due to adopt, on 8 April, the report by Glyn Ford (PES, UK) on trade and economic relations with ASEAN. Members of this committee are expected to argue in favour of signing a free trade agreement provided that the agreement meets certain conditions on sustainable development, anti-counterfeiting measures and human rights. However, the current situation in Burma does not allow the country to be included in the agreement, the report states.
Call to release Aung San Suu Kyi. Jose Riberio e Castro told the hearing: “We must lay down conditions for this referendum, including a call for the release of political prisoners and Aung San Suu Kyi”, the leader of the National League for Democracy, the main opposition party, who was awarded the EP's Sakharov Prize in 1990. “Should international observers be sent to the referendum?”, Frijthof Schmidt asked, taking the view that it is risky for the EU to endorse an election that might meet international standards but would in fact prevent the opposition from standing, as had happened in Iran. (L.C.)