Burma campaign groups across Europe are today joining forces to persuade Germany to support EU sanctions on Burma. Despite the recent massacre and crackdown in Burma, Germany is defying calls from Burma’s democracy movement and its EU partners for sanctions against the dictatorship. EU members have committed themselves to a joint foreign policy on Burma and each member has a veto over sanctions.
“Europe’s lack of action against Burma’s dictatorship is a disgrace,” says John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “Germany holds the key to EU sanctions on Burma. It is the most significant member state opposed to sanctions. The aim of this campaign is to get Germany to back the movement for democracy in Burma. They must take action against this dictatorship.”
Campaign groups in the UK, France, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Demark are asking supporters to email the German foreign ministry urging them to change their Burma policy. Campaign groups in other countries around the world are expected to join the campaign in the coming weeks.
The groups are calling for targeted EU economic sanctions that will cut the economic lifeline of the regime without hurting the vast majority of ordinary Burmese people. These sanctions include a ban on new investment, and restrictions on imports of oil, gas, timber, gems, minerals and garments.
Each month EU foreign ministers meet to discuss foreign policy. The agenda and content of discussion is kept secret. Citizens of the EU are not allowed to know what positions their elected officials take during discussions, unless foreign ministers decide to make them public.
Despite the secrecy of the meetings campaign groups have learnt that Germany, Italy, and Austria are the main opponents of sanctions against Burma. Germany is being targeted as it is the most significant opponent of sanctions.
“A common EU policy on Burma has meant strong words but no real action,’ says John Jackson. “Any single member state can stop the whole of Europe from taking action. We believe the UK is in favour of sanctions but opposition from Germany and others means it cannot follow the foreign policy it would prefer.”
Europe’s failure to act contrasts sharply with action taken by the US, which already has an investment ban and on August 28th will introduce a ban on imports.
“Europe must catch up with the US and impose sanctions,” says Jackson. “Aung San Suu Kyi has been calling for sanctions for years, but Europe has ignored her call, and now she languishes in jail, her whereabouts unknown. Than Shwe, the dictator of Burma, must be grateful for countries like Germany that are blocking EU sanctions.”
On May 30th Than Shwe, launched a brutal crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Up to 100 of her supporters were massacred and Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of the leadership of the national league for democracy were arrested.
Organisations supporting the campaign include Burma Campaign UK, Burma Bureau Germany, Danish Burma Committee, Burma Centre Netherlands, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Action Birmanie, Burma Action Ireland, and the Norwegian Burma Committee.
For more information contact John Jackson, Director of Burma Campaign UK, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377