Work
29.August 2005 - 00:00
Human rights violations in Burma and Burma's proposed chairmanship of ASEAN
Given the continuing gross violations of human rights in Burma, including systematic, widespread use of rape, forced labour, forced relocation, destruction of villages, crops and livestock, use of human minesweepers, forcibly conscripted child soldiers, torture, imprisonment and extra-judicial killings, particularly against the Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin and Arakan ethnic minorities, what measures will the European Union take to make it clear to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that Burma’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 will be unacceptable to the international community? Will the Commission categorically rule out attendance at any joint meetings under Burma’s chairmanship?
Answer given by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner on behalf of the Commission
The Commission is aware of the very serious human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar. The Commission therefore welcomed the announcement made at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 26 June 2005 that Burma/Myanmar would not be taking up the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006. This decision allows the EU to keep up the momentum in EU-ASEAN relations. At the same time, however, it does not in any way reduce the need for urgent and concrete progress in the reconciliation and democratisation process in Burma/Myanmar.
The Commission will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar, while at the same time continuing to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the population in Burma/Myanmar in sectors such as health, livelihoods and environmental support.
Given the continuing gross violations of human rights in Burma, including systematic, widespread use of rape, forced labour, forced relocation, destruction of villages, crops and livestock, use of human minesweepers, forcibly conscripted child soldiers, torture, imprisonment and extra-judicial killings, particularly against the Karen, Karenni, Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin and Arakan ethnic minorities, what measures will the European Union take to make it clear to the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that Burma’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006 will be unacceptable to the international community? Will the Commission categorically rule out attendance at any joint meetings under Burma’s chairmanship?
Answer given by Mrs Ferrero-Waldner on behalf of the Commission
The Commission is aware of the very serious human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar. The Commission therefore welcomed the announcement made at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 26 June 2005 that Burma/Myanmar would not be taking up the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006. This decision allows the EU to keep up the momentum in EU-ASEAN relations. At the same time, however, it does not in any way reduce the need for urgent and concrete progress in the reconciliation and democratisation process in Burma/Myanmar.
The Commission will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Burma/Myanmar, while at the same time continuing to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the population in Burma/Myanmar in sectors such as health, livelihoods and environmental support.