The Burma Campaign UK has approached the main political parties in the UK asking them for their policies on Burma.
Commenting on the responses, Nang Seng, Parliamentary Officer at Burma Campaign UK said:
“The policies of all the main political parties in the UK demonstrate cross-party support for targeted economic sanctions, a global arms embargo, action on crimes against humanity by the generals, and maintaining increased aid. This is a testament to the effective work of Burma Campaign UK in building consensus on what needs to be done to help the people of Burma.”
Party policies follow, in alphabetical order:
Conservative Party
The Conservative Party remains extremely concerned about the situation in Burma and the fate of innocent people who have suffered for so long under the repressive regime. The continuing human rights violations throughout the country, in particular eastern Burma, are appalling. It is apparent that gross abuses of human rights are occurring such as forced labor, the continued detention of political prisoners, including the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and the suppression of all forms of democracy and freedom.
We have urged the government to take the lead on proposing a UN Security Council resolution that would set out clear benchmarks for progress, with deadlines attached. A resolution under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter should require Burma’s military junta to work with the UN secretary-general’s office to implement a plan for national reconciliation; restore the democratically elected government; immediately release all political prisoners; and ensure unhindered access to all parts of the country for the UN and international humanitarian agencies. We have also called for a UN arms embargo on the country.
We support carefully-targeted sanctions against the junta, but are opposed to blanket economic sanctions on Burma. Such general sanctions tend to increase the suffering of ordinary people and are a very blunt instrument. We believe that existing sanctions such as the EU ban on all new investment and sanctions on financial transactions should be enforced and supported by all the EU countries and kept under close review.
Only a concerted international effort will be able to put pressure on the Burmese regime and we have urged the government to raise the situation in Burma with China, India and ASEAN member states, as regional influence is crucial. We have also called upon the EU to support a Commission of Inquiry to establish whether the Burmese generals are guilty of committing crimes against humanity and if they should ultimately face trial by the International Criminal Court.
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell MP, who in 2007 became the first senior British politician for many years to enter Burma, has led calls for increased humanitarian aid, including cross-border aid, for the people of Burma.
Labour Party
General Position
• As the Burma Campaign UK has recognised, the UK Government under Labour has taken the lead in defending human rights and supporting the people of Burma.
• Just as we have done in the past, Labour is committed to doing everything possible to advance positive change and genuine democracy in Burma. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have made it a priority
• We continue to call upon the Burmese regime to engage with Aung San Suu Kyi and to start a genuine dialogue that can give the Burmese people back their future and their hope. We will continue working to secure the release of all political prisoners, a credible transition to democracy and respect for human rights in Burma.
• The Labour Government at the highest level emphasises regularly to the Burmese regime the need for the full and fair participation of ethnic nationalities in the political process as key to a durable solution to Burma’s problems. The Labour Government also continues to raise Burma at the highest level both within the EU and the UN. Over the past months our network of embassies in the region has lobbied numerous countries. The Prime Minister raised the issue with the President of China at the UN General Assembly last September, as did the Foreign Secretary with his opposite number, the Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs-the ASEAN network is chaired by Vietnam at the moment-and Indonesia.
War crimes and the ICC
• The Labour Government has stated our clear support for the UN Security Council referring Burma to the International Criminal Court.
• Labour strongly supports the UN Rapporteur’s recommendation of an inquiry into potential war crimes. We will work to make sure it carries support within the Security Council and does not to fall victim to veto or lack of support, as that will be seen in Rangoon as a victory for the military junta.
Sanctions and embargos
• The Labour Government has taken the lead in seeking international support to impose an arms embargo against Burma. Burma’s people are demanding political and economic freedom, and Labour believes the international community must stand with them
• As the elections in Burma approach, Labour will work to maintain tough EU sanctions targeted at the regime’s economic interests, and press Burma’s neighbours, including China, India and ASEAN countries to use their influence to secure real progress. We will also work in the UN’s human rights bodies to highlight the ongoing and systematic human rights abuses in the country.
• We have always been clear that ttargeted EU sanctions against the military regime in Burma are an important means of maintaining pressure for political reform and respect for human rights. Sanctions introduced in 1996 have been strengthened over time, notably after the Saffron Revolution in 2007, and in August 2009 in response to the guilty verdict in Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. They are now among the EU’s toughest autonomous measures against any country. Labour will not support any easing of sanctions in the absence of tangible progress on the ground.
Elections
• Labour has clearly expressed its concerns about the restrictions made on the electoral system in Burma. The Prime Minister has written to the UN Secretary General to call for an urgent meeting in New York to discuss these developments. Our position remains that elections in Burma will not be credible unless such dialogue takes place, and all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are released and allowed to participate fully in the political process.
Aid
• Development and political progress cannot be separated in Burma. A genuine and sustained move towards political reconciliation, accountable government and respect for human rights is essential for long-term development and poverty reduction.
• Labour’s policy is to use targeted European Union sanctions to encourage the Burmese government to make progress towards political reconciliation and respect for human rights, while avoiding measures which hurt ordinary Burmese people. We do not give economic aid to Burma, but we are able to provide assistance which helps to address the needs of many of its people who are living in deep poverty. The UK is one of a few countries with a significant aid programme in Burma.
• Labour has already doubled its aid to help the people of Burma – the Department for International Development (DFID), under Labour, has been increasing its aid, from £9 million in financial year 2007/08 to £28 million in 2010/11.
• Our programme aims to reach the poorest and most vulnerable people. Working through the United Nations and reputable international and local nongovernmental organisations, we focus on the following key areas: health; pre-school and primary education; the improvement of rural livelihoods; and support for Burmese refugees in Thailand and people displaced by conflict inside Burma. Across our programme, we seek opportunities to build the capacity of local Burmese organisations to give people a greater say in decisions affecting their lives.
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats believe that the continued suppression of peaceful protests, and the continued arrest and harassment of Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is unacceptable. We supported the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma for a United Nations Commission of Inquiry into potential crimes against humanity and strongly support the continuation of the European Union arms embargo on Burma. We also continue to support the tough and targeted sanctions against Burma at EU and UN level.
We believe it is important that the United Kingdom and the European Union encourage China to exert its huge influence in the region to put pressure on the Burmese authorities to improve their record on human rights and the repression of peaceful protests. Similar encouragement must be given to India, another major Burmese trading partner.
Liberal Democrats recognise that the forthcoming elections will be neither free nor fair. The five election laws that have been passed this year, not least the Union Election Commission Law, which involves the appointment of a five-member commission which will have the final say over the country’s elections, will make a mockery of Burma’s first election since 1990.
Following the devastating cyclone that hit in 2008, we have given our full support to the UK’s increase in aid to Burma which will rise to £28 million this year. However, this is simply not enough to help the hundreds of thousands of Burmese people who need water and sanitation, new houses, cyclone shelters and education and health services. That is why Liberal Democrats have supported the Government in encouraging other donors to increase their aid contributions.
Plaid Cymru/The Party of Wales
For too long Burma has ignored the basic tenets of human rights and civil liberties.
Plaid Cymru support the following aims with regard to Burma:
• A United Nations Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.
• A global arms embargo.
• Economic sanctions targeted at Burma’s generals and the business cronies that support them.
• Rejection of sham elections. The international community should focus on efforts to persuade Burma’s dictatorship to enter into dialogue with Aung San suu Kyi and ethnic representatives.
• Increased humanitarian assistance including cross-border assistance to ethnic areas where other aid cannot reach, and more must be done to challenge restrictions on the delivery of aid in Burma.
Scottish National Party
SNP colleagues at Westminster, as well as those in the Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament are appalled at the current situation in Burma and its lack of progress in moving away from its military dictatorship to democracy.
The situation in Burma is one of immediate international importance.
In the Scottish Parliament Rob Gibson MSP tabled a Parliamentary Motion in 2007, in support of the Burmese Democracy Movement and called on the international community to come to the aid of the Burmese people. This motion received cross party support.
We believe a United Nations Commission of Inquiry is essential into determining whether crimes against humanity have indeed taken place and would urge the UK government to support this recommendation. Any situation where ethnic minorities have been targeted by military offensives shows a systematic violation of human rights and Burma is no exception when it comes to human right violations.
We support effective sanctions as advocated by Burma’s Democracy movement, but understand that there may be a limited effect these sanctions can have, as some countries within Asia do not see Burma as a threat to regional Security and do not want to go down the path of sanctions. I support the UK government’s effort in this area, but would urge them to continue pressuring our European Allies to collectively agree to implement sanctions that can be as effective as possible.
The SNP also supports any arms embargo that would prevent weapons falling into the hands of the Regime.
The elections this year will have no credibility without Aung San Suu Kyi’s participation and we concur with the UK government’s view on this. We share the view of the UK Government and others that this election is not free and fair.
We support the British government’s increased aid to Burma, but would like to note that UK Government is yet to meet its international aid commitments – after 40 years of failing to do so – to donate 0.7% of its GDP to support poorer countries. In 2008, the UK’s contribution was just 0.48%.
At our 2007 Party conference, our party put forward a resolution condemning the actions of the Military Government of Burma against the National League for Democracy and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It also called on the Burmese Government to accept the rights of its people to be represented by a democratically elected government and to release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, allowing her safe and free movement. The resolution overwhelmingly passed and we do not resolve from this position.
United Kingdom Independence Party
UKIP will: Promote democracy, genuine human rights, and free determination around the world, supporting, for example, a free Tibet, a democratic Burma and an independent Taiwan.