WRITTEN QUESTION E-2022/03 by Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Arrest of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Date: 2003-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Myanmar/Burma, economic sanctions, human rights, international sanctions, political prisoner, political violence, restriction of liberty

C 88 E/58

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

four producers claiming market economy status.
an interim review was opened at
This review was terminated by Council Regulation (EC) No 2131/2001 of 29 October 2001 (3) without
changing the level of the measures, because the applicants had withdrawn their review request. The
measures will expire in July 2005 unless a full interim or expiry review confirming the continued need of
the measures is opened before that date.

the request of

In accordance to Article 11(2) of the Anti-dumping Basic Regulation (4), Community producers are entitled
to lodge a request for an expiry review no later than three months before expiration of the duties. Pursuant
to Article 5(5) of the Anti-dumping Basic Regulation, the Commission is not able to comment on requests
or complaints seeking the initiation of an investigation prior to a decision being taken on whether or not
to actually initiate an investigation … Should such an expiry review be initiated, a notice of initiation
would normally be published in the Official Journal of the European Union shortly before the scheduled
expiry of the measure, i.e. in this case, 10 July 2005. The same would happen in case that measures were
allowed to expire, i.e. a notice announcing the actual expiry of the measures would be published in the
Official Journal around the date of the expiry of the measures. Up to date no notice has been published
concerning the above-mentioned measures.

Future developments on this proceeding can be followed at the following address on the Internet: (http://
europa.eu.int/comm/trade/policy/dumping/stats.htm).

With regard to the impact of the measures for the Community Industry, this information is not collected
systematically outside an investigation. Since no investigation is ongoing, the Commission does not have
any information at the moment. However, it should be noted that EBMA has argued in the last review that
the expiry of measures would be likely to result in continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to
the Community Industry. For any further information concerning the impact of
the
Commission suggests the Honourable Member to contact the EBMA directly.

the measures,

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1993.
(2) OJ L 175, 14.7.2000.
(3) OJ L 287, 31.10.2001.
(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries

not members of the European Community, OJ L 56, 6.3.1996.

(2004/C 88 E/0063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2022/03

by Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 June 2003)

Subject: Arrest of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma’s leading advocate of human rights and democracy, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi, was detained on 30 May 2003 near Monywa in Burma. The country’s military junta says that Aung
San Suu Kyi and 19 other members of her National League for Democracy Party (NLD) have been placed
in ‘protective custody’ following clashes between her supporters and pro-government demonstrators in
northern Burma.

More than 100 students, NLD supporters and Buddhist monks were arrested in the early hours of 31 May
2003; a number of members of parliament were also detained. Seven high-ranking NLD officials were
placed under house arrest and more than 50 local branches of the NLD party were forced to shut down.
The arrests are viewed as the biggest defeat for democracy in Burma for many years.

What real pressure has the Commission and the EU exerted to persuade the junta in Burma immediately to
release the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the other detainees, including the members of
parliament? How can the EU lend force to the demands that the military junta should break the spiral of
violence and pave the way for a speedy transition to democracy?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/59

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 July 2003)

The Commission and Member States have repeatedly called for the immediate release of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the arrested NLD officials and supporters, the reopening of NLD offices throughout the
country as well as the reopening of all universities in Burma/Myanmar.

On 16 June 2003 the Union also decided to implement without delay the strengthened sanctions which
are specifically targeted on the military leaders and their supporters. Originally there were envisaged to
enter into force on or before 29 October 2003 as agreed in the Common Position on Burma/Myanmar
(2003/297/CFSP) of 28 April 2003 (1).

In addition, the Union has intensified discussions on the situation in Burma/Myanmar with its dialogue
partners in Asia in order to encourage them to use their influence on the Burmese Government to release
Aung San Suu Kyi and support progress on the issues of good governance, and economic reform.
On 17 June 2003, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched an unprecedented
call to Burma/Myanmar for ‘a peaceful transition to democracy’.

It is encouraging to see the strong international reaction to the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and
the Commission sincerely hopes that this consolidated pressure will influence the Burmese Government to
release her and all her supporters and finally show some signs of willingness to work towards national
reconciliation and a return to democracy.

(1) OJ L 106, 29.4.2003.

(2004/C 88 E/0064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2024/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(17 June 2003)

Subject: Violation of freedom of worship in Turkmenistan

There are serious, continual and systematic violations of freedom of worship in Turkmenistan.

The latest of countless attacks against
the Protestant church in the country happened on 31 May.
Five members of the church in the city of Abadam, Nuri Berdiev, Nabat Niyazova, Guzelya Syraeva,
Lyudmila Galkina and Akgulya Niyazova were taken from their homes by the local police and interrogated
at length at the police station. The police also confiscated books and threatened to seize their apartment if
they continued to meet there for the purposes of worship.

This attack was only the latest in a long series of acts of repression and intimidation on the part of the
Turkmenistan authorities against Catholics, Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses, none of whom are
authorised to be registered with the government authorities, and their activities are considered illegal.

Furthermore, the OCSE office in the Turkmen capital has refused to comment on the reports of raids and
violations of religious freedom in Turkmenistan, and Dieter Matthei, an OCSE official in Ashgabad, states
that he has no information on the attacks against Protestants and that for any information about freedom
of religion in Turkmenistan one should apply to the OCSE head office in Vienna.

In view of the above, can the Commission say whether it is aware of the serious, persistent and systematic
violation of religious freedom in Turkmenistan and the events mentioned?

What steps will it take or request in order to exert pressure on the Turkmenistan authorities to ensure that
religious freedom is guaranteed in the country?