Euro-Burmanet: EU ACTION

[cd@xxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Free Burma Readers,
We would like all those in Europe and elsewhere to please contact us in 
writing to EMMA BODINO, 
European Union Humanitarian Commissioner about her remarks earlier this 
month in the press. 

We would like to prove her wrong. 

Ms Bonino, who heads the EC Humanitarian Office (ECHO), said that any 
action taken by the European Union should follow the findings of an EU 
commission investigating forced labour and other social issues in 
Myanmar.

     The investigation is expected to finish late next month.

     If it finds that forced labour is practised there, EU member 
countries will have to decide whether to withdraw trade benefits under 
the Generalised Scheme of Preference (GSP) which would cost Myanmar US$30 
million (S$42 million) a year, she said.

     "I do think that there is a great possibility that the European 
Union will unanimously come out with this decision and that could be the 
start of a political world-wide movement," she said, citing efforts by 
the United States to impose economic restrictions on Myanmar.

"World-wide there is concern about what's going on in the country. What 
is not yet decided is what to do," she added.

The US Senate last month decided against imposing strict sanctions 
against Myanmar, but said that the position would be reversed in the 
event of any repression by the Yangon government against the political 
opposition.

Ms Bonino said she had met Ms Suu Kyi during her visit to Myanmar but her 
requests to meet officials from the government had been refused. 


EuroBurmanet is compiling information of European investment and 
diplomatic contact this year with Slorc. Now it is apparent in the world 
of superpower diplomacy that there is a lot at play in South East Asia 
and neither Clinton nor the Europeans have told the press half the truth 
on the backroom politics now at hand. 

But if you want the EU TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST SLORC, then we at 
Euro-Burmanet encourage some serious solidarity and coordination here. No 
way should the EU officials been allowed to go scott-free from total 
denunciation of Slorc and threat of sanctions. At  least, next month, the 
Generalised Scheme of Preference (GSP) status for Burma should be 
refused. 

You can be sure, that if that is not done, then we have failed miserably 
to establish effective and coordinated action here in Europe, and we have 
no one to blame but ourselves. Euro-Burmanet therefore makes a public 
appeal to ALL FREE BURMA ACTIVISTS  IN EUROPE AND WHEREEVER YOU ARE to 
help get the EUROPEAN UNION together on this.

This is what we have been working for all year here. So if you have 
information or recommendations that you think would be worthwhile and in 
the interest of solidarity and coordination NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

Thank you
Dawn Star
Euro-Burmanet, Paris

<hr>Headline: Sanctions on Myanmar won't work, says senior EUofficial
Keywords: NLD ban,  National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung San Suu 
Kyi, human rights, political prisoners, torture, murder, execution, rape, 
Slorc abuses, forced labor, forced relocation, EU Humanitarian 
Commissioner, Emma Bonino-EU Humanitarian Commissioner, EU, European 
Union, the Generalised System Preference (GSP),Emma Bonino, torture, 
murder , rape, James Leander Nichols,
Date: 08 Aug 1996 
Source: BNN,FBC, bnn, moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (JULIEN MOE), Straits Times 
Section: ebn
Rubrique: euro

     Bangkok  -- The imposition of sanctions by the European Union would 
be  ineffective as a means of bringing pressure to bear on Myanmar's 
military government, a senior EU official has said.

     EU Humanitarian Commissioner Emma Bonino, speaking to journalists on 
Tuesday after a three-country swing through Myanmar, Cambodia and 
Thailand, said that any threat of sanctions against Yangon by the 
European Union would be toothless because of Europe's low level o 
investment in the country.

     "I don't think that for the moment it's a credible way. Our 
investments are very low
     compared to Asian investment ... economically speaking, it's not a 
major impact," she  said.

     She added that there was also dissent on the question of sanctions 
within the EU.

     Calls for sanctions against Myanmar arose in Europe following the 
June 22 death in
     detention of Mr Leo Nichols, an honorary consul for several European 
nations,
     including EU-member Denmark.

     Mr Nichols, a close friend of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San 
Suu Kyi, died
     while serving a prison term for unauthorised use of telephones and 
fax machines.

The Yangon government said he died of natural causes but some European 
officals said he was mistreated before his death.

     European requests for an independent autopsy have been refused by 
the Myanmar government and Norway has accused the authorities of 
torturing Nichols through sleep deprivation.

     Ms Bonino, who heads the EC Humanitarian Office (ECHO), said that 
any action taken by the European Union should follow the findings of an 
EU commission investigating forced labour and other social issues in 
Myanmar.

     The investigation is expected to finish late next month.

     If it finds that forced labour is practised there, EU member 
countries will have to decide whether to withdraw trade benefits under 
the Generalised Scheme of Preference (GSP) which would cost Myanmar US$30 
million (S$42 million) a year, she said.

     "I do think that there is a great possibility that the European 
Union will unanimously come out with this decision and that could be the 
start of a political world-wide movement," she said, citing efforts by 
the United States to impose economic restrictions on Myanmar.

"World-wide there is concern about what's going on in the country. What 
is not yet decided is what to do," she added.

The US Senate last month decided against imposing strict sanctions 
against Myanmar, but said that the position would be reversed in the 
event of any repression by the Yangon government against the political 
opposition.

Ms Bonino said she had met Ms Suu Kyi during her visit to Myanmar but her 
requests to meet officials from the government had been refused. 

Dawn Star (Paris)
cd@xxxxxxx

Burmanet
Coordinator TOTAL
Euro-Burmanet
The Free Burma Coalition
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Help support our effort. Write now, to 

Mrs. Emma BONINO
EC HUMANITARIAN OFFICE 

 The European Commission
 Directorate General 1B
 External Relations
 (Directorate 1B, D, Division 3)
 Rue de la Lois/Westraat 200
 B-1049 BrusselsBelgium
 Fax:32-2-299-1047

Join the Free Burma Coalition. Call 608-256-6572 or email: 
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BURMA NOW ! 
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Send your letters now : 

TOTAL  SA
Thierry Desmarest, CEO, President of Exploration and Production,
HQ: 24 Cours Michelet 92800 Puteaux France
Tel: 33-1-41-35-40-00  Fax: 33-1-41-35-64-65

E-mail : 
Paris France,  : <hourcard@xxxxxxxxx>
New York City  <TOTALNYC@xxxxxxx> , <roberth@xxxxxxxxx>

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