Brussels, 24/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - As the External Relations Council is preparing to extend next Tuesday (29 April) the restrictive measures imposed by common position 2006/318/CFSP against Burma until 30 April 2009 (Coreper agreed on Thursday on a modified list of persons and companies subject to sanctions), the EP adopted, on Thursday 24 April, a resolution on the situation in the country. Approved by 551 votes to 7 and 8 abstentions, the text denounces the fact that the constitutional referendum process (on 10 May), which is to open the way to multiparty elections in Burma in 2010, is devoid of any democratic legitimacy. The current referendum process is not credible “as Burmese citizens lack all basic democratic rights that would allow them to hold an open debate on the constitutional text, amend it and subsequently freely express themselves through a referendum”, MEPs say.
During the debate the previous day (EUROPE 9649), they had expressed scepticism about this process, while supporting democratic transition. In their resolution, they again call for “the immediate and unconditional release of political opponents of the regime and more than 1800 political prisoners”. Stating that the Burmese government continues to enjoy close economic and political relations with neighbouring countries, the EP calls on the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) members to “put substantive pressure on the Burmese authorities to bring about democratic change”. It also urges the Council to “renew its targeted sanctions, and to broaden them”, but still focusing on the military-owned companies, and on generals and their families. The Council is also invited to ensure the effective application of targeted sanctions and ongoing monitoring. It should also continue to review sanctions against specific human rights benchmarks. Other new targeted sanctions should be envisaged such as a total ban on new investments, a ban on providing insurance services for investments in Burma and an embargo on trade in key commodities, as well as incentives for reform. “The EU arms embargo on Burma is ineffective” the EP states, given that the military government procures military equipment in China, Russia and India. It calls for humanitarian work to be scaled up, mainly in the context of programmes currently implemented in the health and education sectors. (A.B.)