WRITTEN QUESTION E-2704/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Persecution by the Burmese authorities

There are persistent reports of persecution of minority ethnic groups living in jungle areas by the Burmese authorities, and especially of the Karen Christians and the Shan people. This persecution includes systematic rape and murder. On Boxing Day, last year there was an attack on Ler Per Hur camp for internally displaced Karen people inside Burma which resulted in 300 people fleeing for their safety to Thailand. In February, it was reported that Burmese troops from Infantry Battalion 246 executed three farmers who had been making their way to their farm outside Saai Khaao village in Kun Hing township. In May, it was reported that troops from the Light Infantry Battalion 559 executed ten Karen villagers in Mukwa village.

Some of these groups are believed to have been involved at certain periods in drug-smuggling, although there are now reports that some of the Shah tribesmen have been targeted because they have recently begun to try to prevent illicit exports of amphetamine tablets to Thailand which have been taking place with the active collusion of the Burmese military.

It is obviously difficult for the European Union to verify individual incidents, but can the Commission confirm that systematic persecution of this kind is taking place on a regular basis, and, if so, what efforts the Commission has made to improve the regime's human rights record?

Can the Commission confirm that the Burmese military is playing a part in smuggling amphetamine tablets to Thailand? Does the Commission have evidence that the Burmese Government is involved in heroin trafficking?

What is the extent of the trading relationship between Burma and the European Union? Could the Commission indicate what economic assistance the European Union offers to Burma?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2002)

As has been stated on several occasions, the Commission is deeply concerned about the situation in Burma/Myanmar and the damage the military regime is causing to the country and to its future, as well as the negative effects of their policies on the region, such as drug trafficking and an increasingly difficult refugee situation.

The Commission is aware of reports of alleged persecutions of ethnic minority groups by the military in Burma/Myanmar and continuously voices its grave concern for the human rights situation in the country, particularly in ethnic minority areas. During the recent Union Troika visit to Burma/Myanmar these concerns were, once again, expressed to the Burmese government. The Commission also regularly makes its preoccupations known to Burma's partners in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Commission is also aware of allegations that the regime has been involved in drug trafficking although these naturally are hard to verify.

The Union has a robust Common Position on Burma/Myanmar, which was first adopted in 1996 and has been strengthened on a number of occasions since. It includes an arms embargo imposed in 1990, the suspension of defence co-operation since 1991 and the suspension of all bilateral aid, other than strictly humanitarian assistance. There is also an Union visa ban on the members of the military regime, the members of the government, senior military and security officers and their families, as well as the suspension of high-level governmental visits to Burma/Myanmar.

The further strengthening of the Common Position, decided on 10 April 2000, introduced (a) a ban on the supply of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism, (b) the merging and publication of the former red (automatic visa ban) and yellow (requiring consultation between Member States on visa requests) lists and (c) a freeze on funds held abroad by persons named in the published list. It opened up the possibility of a visa waiver for the Burmese Foreign Minister where it is in the interest of the Union.

The General Affairs Council of 8 October 2001 decided on a further renewal of the Common Position for the period up to 29 April 2002, unchanged except for a technical amendment to allow Member States to meet their obligations in relation to granting visas to facilitate participation in UN meetings or conferences. The Common Position was renewed, unchanged, in April 2002 until 29 October 2002.

As regards trade relations, Burma/Myanmar is a member of World Trade Organisations (WTO) and its trade is therefore protected by WTO Rules from any discriminatory treatment. However, Community trade privileges, normally granted to Least Developed Countries, were withdrawn from Burma/Myanmar in 1997 because of forced labour. This also means that the country is not eligible to benefit from the Community's Everything but Arms initiative, launched in 2001.

The Commission provides EUR 4-6 million in humanitarian assistance per year to the Burmese population, mainly in ethnic minority areas, and it is currently preparing a EUR 5 million in assistance programme to combat human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/Aids) in the country. All Community assistance is channelled through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and/or international organisations.