WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2526/98 by Graham WATSON to the Council. Political oppression in Burma
Date: 1998-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: Myanmar/Burma, UNO, dictatorship, human rights, international sanctions, military regime

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/69

(1999/C 135/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2526/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Political oppression in Burma

As the military dictatorship of Burma has carried out countless atrocities against the Burmese people and
the population of the country lives in extreme poverty despite an abundance of natural resources, what
action does the Council intend to take?

Would the Council advocate the imposition of economic and financial sanctions against the Burmese
government?

Reply

(16 November 1998)

The Council remains deeply concerned at the continuing violations of human rights and the lack of
democratic progress in Burma/Myanmar. The regime’s recent tightening of restrictions and increase of
pressure on the democratic opposition is particularly worrying and has been condemned by the Union.

The Union has on many occasions issued strong public statements deploring the human rights situation
and the lack of democracy in Burma/Myanmar, most recently on 26 October 1998. At the 54th meeting of
United Nations Commission on Human Rights the European Union presented a Resolution criticising the
human rights situation in Burma, which was adopted on 20 April 1998. The Union has also repeatedly
urged the Burmese rulers to enter into meaningful dialogue with all democratic opposition parties.

The EU furthermore maintains regular contacts with the ASEAN States regarding Burma/Myanmar, and is
urging them to put increased pressure on the Burmese regime.

On 26 October 1998 the Council decided to extend for a further six months the common position on
Burma adopted on 28 October 1996 (1), which provides for a number of restrictive measures vis-à-vis
Burma and senior Burmese officials. The Council also decided to strengthen that common position by
prohibiting the issue of transit visas and extending the visa ban to cover Burmese authorities in the tourism
sector (while ensuring that the ban is applied rigorously to all individual members of the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC) and the military, together with their families). It echoed the view expressed
by Aung San Suu Kyi that, in the present situation, it is inappropriate for tourists to visit Burma. The
Council also envisaged the possibility of economic and financial sanctions against Burma, but has taken
no decision for the time being. It should however be mentioned in this regard that forced labour practices
in the country led to the EC’s decision to withdraw GSP benefits from Burma/Myanmar.

(1) OJ L 287, 8.11.1996.

(1999/C 135/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2536/98

by André Fourçans (PPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Operation of European financial markets

The advent of the euro will result in the increasing integration of Europe’s financial markets. The recent
announcement of an alliance between the London and Frankfurt stock exchanges is an early indication of
this.