Burmese communities in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia will urge the French government to end its protection of Burma’s military junta. The call comes before Bastille Day (July 14) when France celebrates its revolution and the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris.
Burmese communities are protesting France’s veto of EU economic sanctions against the ruling Junta in Burma. France continues to block EU sanctions against Burma in order to protect the interests of French oil giant Total, which is a business partner of the regime. French policy provides crucial support for the regime.
The Burmese junta is infamous for massive human rights abuses including: ethnic cleansing of a million people, rape used as a weapon of war against women and children and the recruitment of more child soldiers than any other country.
Aung Din, Director of US Campaign for Burma and a former political prisoner says “Because the French Revolution has been the inspiration for many freedom struggles, we are demanding that the French Government ends its protection of Burma’s military dictators.”
Soe Aung, Spokesperson for the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), an umbrella group of 30 pro-democracy organizations, including ethnic nationalities groups, says “It is outrageous that even while the people of France celebrate their revolution, their government are trying to stop ours.”
In a letter sent to French Embassies around the world, Burmese communities say: “On July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day and the spirit of the French Revolution – the spirit of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. However, for Burmese people around the world, French policy towards Burma supports the interests of Total Oil and Burma’s dictatorship over the interests of Burma’s people. This policy might more accurately be represented by the Slogan ‘Captivity, Inequality and Rivalry’.”
President Jacques Chirac was in favour of Burma’s membership of the Association of South East Asian Nations in 1997, and more recently of Burma‚s membership of the Asia Europe Meeting (Asem). Many believe that French foreign policy is an extension of Total Oil’s business interests, and that French objection to any substantial economic action against the regime by the EU, testifies to that.
Notes
- TOTAL is the largest European corporate funder of the regime. The Yadana gas project, in which it is a partner, is believed to earn the regime between $200m to $450m a year.
- TOTAL’s presence in Burma influences French and European Union foreign policy on Burma, as France vetoes effective EU sanctions in order to protect TOTAL.
- Horrific human rights abuses were committed in the region of TOTAL’s gas pipeline by pipeline security forces.
- Arms sales are closely linked to TOTAL’s gas project. The regime used its first downpayment for gas exports to buy 10 MIG jets from Russia.
National Council of the Union of Burma – Foreign Affairs Committee
Network for Democracy and Development – External Affairs Department
P.O. Box 61, Huamark P.O., Bangkapi, Bangkok, 10243, Thailand
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