EU dithering gives the regime a green light to continue abuses.
The Burma Campaign UK today called on the European Union to move swiftly to impose targeted economic sanctions against the regime in Burma. Negotiations have been taking place for weeks but no new sanctions have been announced.
“The European Union warned the regime that it would strengthen sanctions if the regime resorted to violence, but we have yet to see them deliver,” said Mark Farmaner, Acting Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “We can only assume that some EU governments are going back on their word, and blocking EU action. If the EU once again fails to keep its word on Burma, its credibility will be severely damaged.”
Burma’s democracy movement is calling for targeted economic sanctions, including a complete ban on all new investment in Burma, a ban on imports of key commodities such as timber, gems, and metals, and a ban on financial transactions.
“While the EU dithers, the regime gets the message it can literally get away with murder,” said Mark Farmaner. “Those countries protecting the generals in Burma from stronger sanctions should have the courage to come out publicly and say so.”
EU members are committed to a common foreign policy on Burma. In theory, this could be highly effective, with all 27 EU members working together to help bring democratic reform in Burma. In fact, we are left with the lowest common denominator, and a weak and ineffective response that has had no impact on the regime. As all 27 EU members have to agree on sanctions or any issue, it only takes one country to say no, and then nothing happens.
The EU is divided on how to deal with Burma. This division has meant that it is left without a strategy. A previous policy of gradually increasing pressure on the regime if there was no change, and relaxing pressure if there was positive change, is no longer being applied. A handful of countries, UK, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Ireland and Denmark, have favoured increasing pressure to various degrees. A handful of countries have opposed increasing pressure, and some even favour reducing existing measures taken by the EU. These are France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Poland. It is not known which policy positions all EU members are taking in the negotiations currently taking place. In a welcome move, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to work for stronger EU sanctions.
For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 0207 324 4713
STATEMENT BY THE EU 25TH SEPTEMBER 2007
The European Union is very concerned by the latest reports from inside Burma/Myanmar which suggest that the authorities are moving military forces to city centres.??We reiterate our call on the authorities in Burma/Myanmar not to use violence against people who are committed to non-violence, and to pursue genuine reconciliation and negotiation.??We also call on all those with influence over the military government to bring that influence to bear to ensure that the authorities respond in a non-violent manner.??The EU further underlines to the authorities in Naypyidaw that it will not hesitate to reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions regime, should they resort to using violence against the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators.?