Germany blocks EU sanctions on Burma

The Burma Campaign UK today accused Germany of protecting Burma’s brutal military dictatorship. European Union foreign ministers meeting today were expected to discuss what action they would take against the dictatorship in Burma. However, Germany’s refusal to consider economic sanctions meant that Burma had to be dropped from the agenda.

“Than Shwe, the dictator of Burma, will be thanking Germany today,” said John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “Germany’s decision means the EU will be taking no action against Burma following the recent massacre and crackdown. This sends exactly the wrong message to the dictatorship. Than Shwe now knows that he can get away with massacring his own people and imprisoning Aung San Suu Kyi. Germany will protect him from any EU action.”

The Burma Campaign UK is calling for targeted economic sanctions that will cut the economic lifeline of the regime without hurting ordinary Burmese people. These sanctions include a ban on new investment, and restrictions on exports of oil, gas timber, gems, minerals and garments.

“Britain cannot allow Germany to stop it from taking action against Burma’s dictatorship,” says Jackson. “235 MPs have signed Early Day Motion 1311 calling for Britain to impose investment sanctions unilaterally if the EU failed to act. The EU has failed to act, Britain must not.”

On May 30th Burma’s Than Shwe launched a brutal crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy. Up to 100 of her supporters were massacred, and Aung San Suu Kyi remains under arrest, her whereabouts unknown. Europe’s failure to act contrasts sharply with action taken by the US, which already has an investment ban and will soon introduce a ban on imports.

For more information contact John Jackson, Director of Burma Campaign UK,or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377

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