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Letter to "The Times"on GSP 4/3/97



Yvette Mahon Burma Action Group Collins Studios Collins Yard
Islington Green London N1 2XU

Tel: 44 171 359 7679 Fax: 44 171 354 3987 E-mail: bagp@xxxxxxxxxx


Date: 4/3/97

LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE TIMES', FEBRUARY 26, 1997

Dear Sir,

According to British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind,
discussions by delegates to the Asia-Europe ministerial meeting in
Singapore on February 15 "reflected the seriousness"  of the
deteriorating human rights situation in Burma. If this is so, why
then is there still a consistent failure on the part of the
international community, the EU included, to take even limited
punitive action against Burma's ruling military dictatorship?

There has been too much rhetoric by the international community in
its criticism of the Burmese regime. Burma looks set to enjoy a
welcome into the Association of South East Asian Nations this
year, whilst the EU appears to be dragging its heels over the
Commission's December 18 recommendation that it withdraw
preferential market access for Burmese industrial goods into the
European market.

Under EC rules, trade privileges given to developing countries can
be withdrawn if a recipient is found to be in contravention of
terms prohibiting the practice of forced labour. The clear and
systematic use of forced labour, including child labour, by the
military regime in Burma has been confirmed by many international
bodies, including the UN Commission on Human Rights, the
International Labour Organisation and, since December, by the
European Commission.  Despite this incontrovertible evidence, and
despite the support of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the withdrawal of
trade privileges, approval of the proposal by Union Foreign
Ministers  has again been delayed. A decision was expected at the
recent General Affairs Council meeting on February 24. The vote
has now been postponed until March 24, at the earliest.

There have been some suggestions that a number of member states
may be making efforts to delay the process, and that this may in
part be due to efforts to protect European economic interests in
the country. Other indications are that the Council proposes to
delay its' vote until trade privileges can be withdrawn from both
industrial and agricultural produce concurrently.

Whatever the motivation, these measures proposed are the very
least that should be expected. If the British Foreign Secretary's
actions are to reflect the seriousness of his own concern, then we
can expect to see Britain pushing through this proposal as a
matter of urgency. Now is the time to go beyond strong statements
and take effective and firm action. Withdrawal of trade privileges
is a vital first step only, the very simplest  provision for which
there can be no acceptable delay.  We urge the EU to send this
clear message to Burma's ruling generals on the need for urgent
reform without further procrastination.

Signatories:

Glenys Kinnock MEP Denis MacShane MP Bill Jordan (ICFTU) Yvette
Mahon (Burma Action Group UK)

PUBLISHED LETTER 4/3/97

Sir, According to British Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind,
discussions At the Asia-Europe ministerial meeting in Singapore on
February 15 "reflected the seriousness"  of the deteriorating
human rights situation in Burma.

Why then does the international community, the EU included, fail
to take even limited punitive action against Burma's ruling
military dictatorship?

Burma looks set to enjoy a welcome into the Association of South
East Asian Nations this year, whilst the EU appears to be dragging
its heels over the Commission's recommendation on December 18 that
it withdraw preferential market access for Burmese industrial
goods, because of Burma's systematic use of forced labour,
including child labour.

Approval of the proposal by EU Foreign ministers was expected at
the General Affairs Council meeting on February 24. The vote has
now been postponed until March 24, at the earliest.

Withdrawal of trade privileges is a vital first step for which
there can be no acceptable delay.  We urge the EU to send this
clear message to Burma's ruling generals on the need for urgent
reform.

Yours truly, Bill Jordan (General Secretary, ICFTU) Glenys Kinnock
MEP, Denis MacShane MP, Yvette Mahon (Co-ordinator), The Burma
Action Group UK, Collins Studios, Collins Yard, Islington,N1.
February 26.