European Parliament Calls for Global Arms Embargo Against Burma

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed a European Parliament resolution calling for the European Union to support a global arms embargo against Burma.  Burma Campaign groups in Europe have been lobbying members of the European Parliament asking them to put pressure on EU governments to support an embargo. 

European Union Foreign Ministers meet on Monday and Tuesday next week and will be discussing their common policy on Burma. Existing sanctions are expected to be renewed for a further year, but no new sanctions are expected at this time. However, for the first time ministers will be discussing whether the European Union should work towards securing a global arms embargo against the regime in Burma. The EU has itself had a longstanding ban on the sale of military equipment to Burma. 

“This is a significant step forward for our campaign for a global arms embargo against Burma,” said Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of the Burma Campaign UK. “EU Foreign Ministers are now under increased pressure to come out in support of a global arms embargo when they meet next week. The regime in Burma shoots monks on the streets and slaughters ethnic people in the east of the country. Selling them arms is indefensible.” 

The resolution also called for more targeted economic sanctions by the EU, and, significantly, called for the European Commission –the secretariat of the EU – to start funding cross-border aid to reach people in parts of Burma where the regime blocks aid as part of its ethnic cleansing policy. 

For more information contact Zoya Phan, International coordinator of the Burma Campaign UK, on 020 7324 4710

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