From Avaaz (see also previous blogs on this topic): This Monday, October 15, the foreign ministers of the 27 European Union states will meet in Luxembourg - and decide whether to live up to their warnings to the Burmese junta. Three weeks ago, the EU vowed to step up sanctions on the Burmese regime if it cracked down violently on the protesters. If the EU fails to take action now, the Burmese regime will take it as a sign that international pressure is mere talk, and won't hesitate to commit further atrocities.
Burma isn't a democracy, but EU countries should be. If we can send a flood of messages to our own foreign ministers before the meeting on Monday, we can press each of them to vote for stronger sanctions and targeted incentives to push the regime into dialogue - without hurting ordinary Burmese people. Click here to send an email to your foreign minister:
www.avaaz.org/en/eu_squeeze_the_junta/a.php?cl=31108912
The brutal Burmese military sees EU sanctions as a serious threat. To finance its vast army, the junta exports billions in gas, oil, gems, and timber each year. Targeting these industries will hit the state-run monopolies, but won't affect the public; most Burmese are desperately poor and gain nothing from this ugly trade. In parallel we can offer aid and incentives for reconciliation. Strong sanctions would give the democracy movement a powerful bargaining chip-- the government might cede power in exchange for them being lifted. That's why Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic Burmese opposition leader, has been calling for stronger international sanctions for more than a decade. And it's why, earlier this week, she refused to back down--even after the dictator Than Shwe promised to meet with her if she would drop her demands.
We can stand with Suu Kyi, with the monks and other protesters--so many of whom have given their lives--by supporting their call. Let's send a flood of messages to the EU foreign ministers before they meet this Monday, supporting targeted sanctions and incentives for Burma:
www.avaaz.org/en/eu_squeeze_the_junta/a.php?cl=31108912
The very day before the Burmese junta's crackdown began, the EU threatened to "reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions regime" if the junta were to "resort to using violence against the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators." Meanwhile, a remarkable global movement has arisen - protests worldwide, media attention, more than 750,000 individuals signing the Avaaz petition on Burma. Unless European countries act now, international pressure could lose all credibility. It is up to us to make sure that our leaders live up to their own words--and take meaningful action now to support the Burmese people.
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Media Release from the Burma Campaign UK
For Immediate Release 15th October 2007
Burma Campaign UK Hails EU Sanctions Breakthrough
The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed an announcement by the European Union
that it will impose targeted sanctions against the regime in Burma. The EU
has agreed a ban on investment in, and imports of, Burmese timber, metals
and gems. It is also considering a ban on all new investment if the regime
does not enter into genuine dialogue with the democracy movement.
“This is a significant breakthrough,” said Zoya Phan, Campaigns Officer at
the Burma Campaign UK. “The EU is finally starting to impose sanctions that
bite. We have been calling for this for more than a decade. These targeted
sanctions will hit the regime where it hurts them the most, in the pocket.
It also sends a strong message of solidarity to the people of Burma.”
The Burma Campaign UK dismissed suggestions that the sanctions would have
little impact. “The EU imports hundreds of millions of dollars worth of
goods every year, these sanctions will hurt the generals and their business
cronies,” said Zoya Phan. “We need a combination of economic and political
pressure from the EU, and this is a good start.”
The Burma Campaign UK also called for swift implementation of an investment
ban, which is under consideration should the regime continue to defy efforts
by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari to get them to agree to negotiations with the
democracy movement.
“We would have liked to have seen an immediate ban on investment,” said Zoya
Phan, “but we understand the logic in delaying implementation as a way of
increasing pressure on the regime to agree to talk. However, this should not
been left open-ended, a deadline must be set in the near future. The EU
should also implement a ban on financial transactions.”
The EU also demanded the immediate release of political prisoners and warned
that a return to the situation before the demonstrations is unacceptable.
There is great concern about the fate of those who have been arrested, many
of whom will be facing horrific torture.
The Burma Campaign UK also praised efforts by Foreign Secretary David
Miliband and Prime Minister Gordon Brown in securing this agreement. “We
appreciate the efforts that David Miliband and Gordon Brown have made to get
the EU to agree to these sanctions,” said Zoya Phan. “These were obviously
tough negotiations, but the British government delivered.”
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