EUs fællesholdning til Burma

12. december 2002
EU har forlænget sin "common position" om Burma i endnu 6 måneder. EU forlænger visumrestriktionerne og indefrysningen af værdier for udvalgte personer i Burmas militærregering, SPDC. Desuden opfordrer EU SPDC til uden yderligere ophold at optage dialog med demokratibevægelsen og de etniske grupper med henblik på en fredelig overgang til demokrati. Du kan læse hele teksten her - den er på engelsk.

Burma/Myanmar
– Common position and Council conclusions The Council adopted a Common Position amending its Common Position (96/635/CFSP) in order to take into account changes in the composition of the regime in Burma/Myanmar and extending it for another six months.

The Common Position includes restrictive measures (visa ban, assets freeze) against a number of persons. (doc. 12890/02)

The Council adopted the following conclusions: "The European Union has long urged the restoration of democracy, the pursuit of national reconciliation and the protection of human rights in Burma/Myanmar.

The European Union continues to follow closely developments in the country and the Council expressed its strong support for the efforts of Sri Razali, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General.

The EU has welcomed the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in early May 2002. The EU has also noted the subsequent release of a number of political prisoners, and the relaxation of some constraints on political activities in the country.

The Council is disappointed, however, that these promising first steps have not led to the start of a wider political process.

The European Union noted with grave concern the reports of recent politically motivated detentions and arrests in Burma/Myanmar, including the detention of several students in August and, most recently, of 30 people in the last week of September.

The European Union calls on the authorities of Burma/Myanmar to immediately cease the arrest and detention of people on political grounds.

The Council believes that the political process can no longer be put off if the Burma/Myanmar authorities’ stated ambition of national reconciliation, respect for human rights and transition to civilian rule is to be achieved.

The lack of progress casts doubts on the sustainability of the current process and serve to increase the human costs suffered by the people of Burma/Myanmar. Therefore, the Council stressed the necessity for the Government of Burma/Myanmar to engage, without further delay, in substantial dialogue with the opposition, leading to a peaceful political transition and national reconciliation.

Such a dialogue should ultimately include all relevant political players, including the ethnic nationalities and lead to the re-establishment of a genuine and legitimate democratic government in Burma/Myanmar, which could benefit from full international support.

The Council expressed its serious concern about the continuing human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar and reiterated its full support for the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights, Paolo Sergio Pinheiro.

The Council urged for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, with a special priority for the elderly and sick detainees.

The Council also invited the authorities to pursue the co-operation with the ICRC with a view to improve the conditions in the country’s prisons.

The Council reiterated its call for the lifting of all restrictions on freedom of association and expression, including the freedom of the media.

The Council expressed its serious concern about the disproportionate sufferings of ethnic minorities, women and children, and internally displaced persons also in the non-cease fire areas, from the ongoing and systematic violations of the civil, political, social, and cultural rights, including the use of rape. The Council urged the authorities to permanently eradicate the practice of forced labour and encouraged the Government to actively work with the ILO Liaison Officer in this field.

The Council also urged the authorities to take vigorous action to combat the production and trafficking of drugs. The Council expressed its grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Burma/Myanmar and urged the authorities to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable part of the population.

In particular the Council underlined the need to address urgently in collaboration with all interested parties, including the NLD, the HIV/AIDS epidemic given the exponential pace, with which this disease is spreading in Burma/Myanmar.

In this context, the Commission is in the final stage of preparation of its Euro 5 million programme to assist in combating HIV/AIDS in the country. If the implementation of the programme is appropriately facilitated by Burmese authorities, the Commission and EU Member States will consider granting further assistance to the Burmese population.

The Council expressed its preoccupation with the rapidly deteriorating economic situation in the country, and the first indications of social unrest due primarily to a failure to meet the basic need of some populations groups.

The Council encouraged the Burmese authorities to accept the invitation from the International Financial Institutions to initiate a substantive dialogue on macro economic reforms.

The Council also encouraged the early accession by Burma/Myanmar to the eight UN anti-terrorist conventions to which it is not a party, as well as the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and the Palermo Convention on Transnational Organised Crime.

The Council decided to extend the EU’s Common Position on Burma/Myanmar for a further six months and to keep the evolution of the political situation in the country under close scrutiny. The Council is prepared to continue to react proportionately to developments in Burma/Myanmar, either positive or negative."


Tilbage	Til top

Klik dig videre til Free Burma's political prisoners now!

Foto: Joachim Ladefoged. Fotoet er gengivet med fotografens tilladelse

Suu Kyis tid i husarrest:

Islands Brygge 32D - 2300 København S - Tlf. +45 35 24 60 00 - E-mail: solidaritet@lo.dk