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The Right Honourable The Secretary of State
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Sq
London SW1A 2AH
14 July 2004
Dear Foreign Secretary
We have become increasingly concerned about the situation in Burma
and believe that a stronger and more urgent response by our government
and the European Union is necessary.
It must be clear that the efforts of UN special envoy to Burma,
Mr Razali, have failed in persuading the regime to negotiate a peaceful
political settlement in Burma. There is also no doubt that the South
East Asian initiative known as the 'Bangkok Process', aimed at supporting
democratic reform in Burma, has been rejected by the regime. The
regime is determined, through its National Convention, to draft
a constitution that will enshrine military rule. Given these circumstances,
we feel that the continuing UK and EU policy of 'wait and see' is
simply a default position in the absence of a well thought out strategy
on Burma. What more is there to wait for? The regime has reneged
on every promise it has made over the last decade. More recently,
it told the UN and its neighbours that it would release Aung San
Suu Kyi, and did not. Simply by promising change rather than delivering
it, the regime, successfully evades any substantial action against
it. This is all the more tragic given the practices of this dictatorship
which include ethnic cleansing, rape as a weapon of war, mass use
of forced labour, and the conscription of more child soldiers than
any other country in the world. Despite all this, it evades tough
sanctions called for by Burma's democrats and ethnic leaders.
Last year Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade was attacked by a junta-backed
militia. Up to one hundred of her supporters were beaten to death.
Many more have disappeared. She was arrested and remains in detention.
Apart from two symbolic measures, the extension of an EU visa ban
against the generals and the adding to the list of regime members
whose European assets can be frozen, no significant sanction was
implemented by the UK or EU. This is a meagre response to this act
of repression. Since then, the UK and EU have refrained from taking
further action in order to allow the junta to progress a 'seven
point roadmap' to democracy. This road map has come to an absolute
dead end, yet the regime is still allowed to gain time, consolidate
its position, and be confident that no serious action will be taken
against it.
Since 1988, EU imports from Burma and investment in Burma have valued
US$4 billion. The UK currently imports more from Burma than any
other EU country. There is absolutely nothing to stop a UK or EU
multinational from investing in Burma. None of this economic leverage
has been used to attack the economic interests of the small political
constituency inside Burma which the regime depends on for support.
Contrast this potential leverage with current EU measures, the freezing
of £3,500 of the regime's funds in the UK and just £60
in Germany. We are ware of the other measures: the ban on non-humanitarian
aid, the withdrawal of GSP, the arms embargo and even the 'current'
refusal to permit Burma's membership to the Asia Europe Meeting
(ASEM). These are welcome, but fall short of the type of pressure
that is needed.
It is the position of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties
to push for targeted economic sanctions against Burma now. It is
also the position of one hundred or so Labour MPs who signed an
Early Day Motion calling for such sanctions. The government's position
on the issue of sanctions is increasingly an isolated one. We should
push hard in Europe and if the EU fails to act then the UK should
take the lead. We cannot continue to ignore the wishes of Aung San
Suu Kyi and Burma's democrats simply because there is a lack of
political will within Europe to take action.
Targeted sanctions on Burma have the potential to be extremely effective,
because it is those who support the regime that control or own businesses
that depend on foreign markets or foreign investment. The vast majority
of Burma's people live on subsistence agriculture or cottage industries
and will be largely unaffected by an investment ban and a ban on
selected Burmese exports to the EU.
At the same time, the UK should table a resolution at the UN Security
Council demanding a specific programme of reform by the regime with
a clear timeframe attached. There is a risk that such a resolution
will be vetoed by China, but the political message that we would
be sending the regime would be worth it nevertheless.
On 25 June last year, you yourself said, "Regrettably, the
Burmese regime shows a cynical and blatant disregard for the views
of others. It responds only to direct pressure...Further pressure
will follow unless the regime moves rapidly to restore civilian
rule and democracy". A year has passed, the regime has rejected
the wishes of the UN, the EU and even the Asian countries that defend
it. We would be failing in our duty to the long suffering people
of Burma if we allow the regime to continue to kill, torture, imprison
and silence them with impunity. We are sure that you would want
no such thing. Decisive action is needed now.
We look forward to your response.
Yours faithfully
Iain Luke MP
Secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma
John Bercow MP
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs
Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats
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