New Delhi (Mizzima) – Burma campaign groups from 13 European countries have urged the European Union to strengthen its policy of sanctions on Burma and to pressure the junta to release all political prisoners.
Zoya Phan, International Coordinator of Burma Campaign UK, who attended the Burma Campaign Meeting in Barcelona during the weekend, told Mizzima that the meeting of campaigners has called on the EU to strengthen its Common Position on Burma, which will be renewed in April.
"We will call on the EU to impose sanctions against the regime by initiating a global arms embargo, financial transaction and in gas and oil sectors," Zoya Phan said on Monday.
The campaigners also urged the EU to exert more pressure on the Burmese military junta to release political prisoners including Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and to expedite political reforms and to improve the human rights situation in the country.
The Burma campaign groups from 13 European countries, under the banner of 'European Burma Network', held a meeting on February 7 and 8 in Barcelona, Spain.
"As long as the regime commits human right abuses in the country, EU should tighten the pressure on the Burmese junta," Phan said.
The EU in 1996 adopted a 'Common Position' on Burma which imposed restrictive measures towards Burmese military rulers.
The Common Position, which banned member countries from investing in Burma, was further tightened in areas of logging, mining and gemstone industries and the import of related items, following the Burmese junta's brutal crackdown on protestors in September 2007.
Despite the sanction, Phan said some companies from EU countries are still investing in Burma and are contributing to the military's human rights abuses.
"French company Total and other companies still remain in gas and oil sectors" said Phan, adding that the campaigners called on the EU to immediately tighten sanctions so as to force such companies to stop doing business in Burma.
Despite the sanctions, the EU donated €22 million in December 2008 for relief and recovery programmes after the deadly Cyclone Nargis lashed Burma. The EU also said it will provide another €18.5 million in 2009 for programmes targeting for the relief of highly vulnerable populations inside Burma and Burmese refugees in Thailand.
However, Phan said, EU's direct relief aid provided to Burmese refugees in Thailand is insufficient saying, "EU should also provide more cross-border aid for the refugees in eastern Burma."
