MEPs DEMAND ACTION ON BURMA

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 27th Sep 2007

Burmese political prisoners must be released and violence towards protesters must stop, the European Parliament has demanded in a strongly worded resolution adopted today.

Applauding the popular protests against the repressive military regime, the resolution also calls for a greater UN role in a future transition to democracy, including an urgent visit by the UN envoy, in which he is given free access in the country.

Speaking today from Strasbourg after the vote to adopt the resolution, Liz Lynne MEP, Member of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights and a co-author of the resolution, said:

"I deplore the news that shots have been fired into crowds in Rangoon and that protesters have been beaten.

"In the light of these recent events and Burma's tragic recent history, I warmly welcome the overwhelming support for this resolution from my colleagues. I hope that this means the EU will have a strong influence on any further international action taken on the Burmese regime.

"It is so important we make it clear to the regime that there will be dire consequences if the violent crackdown on the recent protests continues. The EU's approach so far, and our policy of sanctions, has not been tough enough. The Burmese military junta must be left in no doubt that the EU will not tolerate its brutal and oppressive tactics.

"But at the same time we need to do more to support change from within the country, by working with people on the ground and by encouraging dialogue and reform at a local level. The people of Burma have been suffering for a long time - we must do everything we can to support them.

"The military regime must also be aware that help with any democratic transition is available from the international community and I strongly hope the EU will be a part of this when it happens.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The text of the resolution adopted today by a majority of MEPs is as follows:

European Parliament resolution on Burma

The European Parliament,

• having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma, particularly that of 6 September 2007[1][1],

• having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks has led a massive wave of peaceful demonstrations against the repressive military junta in Burma and demanded freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners,

B. whereas the demonstrations have continued to grow in spite of arrests and fears of a violent reaction by government forces,

C. having regard to the appeal of 23 September 2007 by the Dalai Lama, in which he urged the Burmese authorities to avoid violence toward Buddhist monks and other protesters,

D. whereas, on 20 September, the situation in Burma was only briefly discussed in the UN Security Council,

1 Applauds the courageous action of the Burmese monks and tens of thousands of other peaceful demonstrators in confronting the anti-democratic and repressive regime in Burma and utterly condemns the brutal response by the Burmese authorities.

2. Reiterates its call for the immediate release and full freedom of movement and expression for Aung San Suu Kyi;

3. Urges the authorities in Burma to avoid any violent response to the demonstrations, to ensure that there is no repeat of the appalling scenes of carnage witnessed by the world in 1988, but instead to recognise the legitimacy of the demands that are being made and to release arrested demonstrators and other political prisoners;

4. Calls for the cessation of the current illegitimate constitutional process, and its replacement by a fully representative National Convention including the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political parties and groups;

5. Calls on the UN Security Council to address the situation in Burma as a matter of urgency and to empower the UN Secretary-General to take action in order to facilitate national reconciliation and a transition to democracy in Burma, and for the UN General Assembly to take appropriate action;

6. Calls on the UN Security Council to ensure that the UN Special Envoy, Mr Ibrahim Gambari, makes his planned visit to Burma as a matter of urgency and is given unfettered freedom of movement and access;

7. Calls on the EU Council, as a matter of urgency, to liaise with the United States, ASEAN and other members of the international community in order to prepare a coordinated series of additional measures, including targeted economic sanctions, that might be taken against the Burmese regime if it resorts to violence and does not respond to the call for a return to democracy;

8. Asks the Commission to make the appropriate means available in the framework of the Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights in order to actively support the pro-democracy movement and NGOs that work for the restitution of good governance in Burma;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the governments of the ASEAN nations, the National League for Democracy, the State Peace and Development Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.