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Wide support of Dutch Parliament fo



Subject: Wide support of Dutch Parliament for economic sanctions against Burma

PRESS-RELEASE

WIDE SUPPORT  OF DUTCH PARLIAMENT FOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA

The Hague, 20 September 1996 - A majority of the Dutch Parliament is in 
favour of Economic Sanctions against Burma. This became clear today in The 
Hague, where spokesmen of political parties debated on the call of the 
European Parliament and the Danish Government to the European Union to 
impose sanctions against Burma. The debate was organized by XminusY 
Solidarityfund and the Burma Centre Netherlands.

Member of European Parliament mrs. J.R.H. Maij-Weggen, who also spoke on 
behalf of the Christian Democrats of the Dutch Parliament, came especially 
to The Hague from Strasbourg, to call on her collegues to support the 
European resolution. "We must block Burma's regime with all possible 
resources. The Netherlands should support the Danish initiative. Carlsberg 
and Heineken also withdrew together."

Her call was consequently supported by the Liberal Party, the Green Party 
and the Socialists. All spokesmen agreed with the statement of Maij-Weggen 
that the European Union should hasten its efforts to implement a total 
boycott of Burma. Liberal Party MP E.L.P. Hessing said he was happy with the 
resolution of the European Parliament.

TOURISM
Maij-Weggen also called on tourists not to visit Burma: "Burma is not a 
country to visit for a holiday." Maij-Weggen declared that travel agency's 
should "absolutely dissuade from" organizing trips to Burma. According to 
her, NGO's must tackle travel to Burma. A. van Wezel, spokesperson for the 
Netherlands Trade Union Confederation, declared that the organization will 
send her members information on travel to Burma: "You better not visit Burma."

COMPANIES
All members of Parliament agreed that Dutch Companies who trade with Burma 
should be approached soon. The Socialist Party calls on her sister party's 
within the European Union to approach companies who invest in Burma. 
Lilipaly: "Discourage trade missions, no credit garanties for those 
companies." According to Hessing of the Liberal Party, ethics codes for 
investors in Burma cannot be realized. Van Wezel: "The Netherlands Trade 
Union Confederation will continue to approach these companies through the 
joined unions.
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BCN is onafhankelijke stichting. Doel: Nederlandse samenleving informeren 
over Burma. Het initieert en co-ordineert aktiviteiten die democratisering 
en duurzame ontwikkeling bevorderen. Het geeft een positieve bijdrage aan 
een constructieve dialoog tussen de diverse groeperingen.

BCN
Paulus Potterstraat 20
1071 DA AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
(31)20-6716952 (tel)
(31)20-6713513 (fax)

visit these sights:
http://sunsite.unc.edu/freeburma/freeburma.html
http://www.uio.no/tormodl
http://danet.wicip.org/fbc/freeburma.html