Last week the European Parliament adopted a resolution concerning the situation in Burma (now Myanmar). The violent repression by government forces on demonstrators has led to protests mounting worldwide against the Burmese Government. MEP’s backed the demonstrators, condemned the brutal reaction of the authorities and called for the international community to prepare “targeted economic sanctions” against the regime should it fail to respond.
To understand today’s situation one must go back to 1962, when military rule took over democratic rule in a military coup led by General Ne Win. In 1988, unrest over economic mismanagement and political oppression by the government, led to widespread pro-democracy demonstrations. Demonstrators were massacred by security forces, and General Saw Maung staged a coup d’état and formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).
After 30 years of military oppression in May 1990 free elections were held. The National League won the election, led by noble prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, but democracy was stabbed in the back when the military regime refused to step down.
Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990. She was awarded both awards under house arrest. Released in 1997 she was taken back into custody in 2000 and she is still in detention until today.
In an appeal made last week by the chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, expressed his concern at the evolving situation in Burma. He said, “the international community cannot tolerate the use of force against peaceful demonstrators”.
The resolution, which was adopted on Friday by the European Parliament, is brief but with a far-reaching list of demands. The demands are not only directed to the military junta ruling Burma, but also to the international community including China, which many MEP’s believe has failed to do enough in the past.
Fresh news arriving by the hour, of the deaths, injuries and arrests of monks and ordinary civilians in Burma, remind me that democracy and freedom of expression are rights that are often hard to achieve.
The council reacted to the situation and the 27 member states issued a declaration urging the Burmese government to respect the right to peaceful demonstration, while foreign policy high representative Javier Solana, called on the government to exercise restraint. The EU had also threatened tougher sanctions.
It is important for the European Union to react and take action in such situations. We must not tolerate violations of human rights and we must act on what we preach. Our unity is based on the respect of fundamental human rights, and as members of the global community and one of the largest economic powers, we must unite in such situations.
The harsh living conditions of the Burmese people do not limit themselves to the undemocratic political situation. It is estimated that in 2003, 20,000 people died of HIV/AIDS, while another 330,000 people are living with the deadly virus.
According to the UN Development Programme’s 2006 Human Development Report, public health expenditure equalled only 0.3 per cent of Burma’s GDP. High infant mortality rates and short life expectancies, further highlight poor health and living conditions. The HIV/AIDS epidemic poses a serious threat to the Burmese population, as do tuberculosis and malaria. In 2006, the UNDP’s Human Development Index, which measures achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment, and adjusted real income, ranked Burma 130 out of 177 countries.
Since 1994, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department – ECHO, has funded programmes aimed at helping vulnerable groups in Burma. In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, ECHO has significantly increased its annual funding from EUR6.5 million in 2001, to EUR15.5 million in 2006; its latest funding decision implemented from January 1this year.
ECHO financing is spent on the provision of basic health care in remote areas. Water and sanitation projects make up 20 per cent of funding, while the remainder is allocated to nutrition, food aid, protection programmes and support to the International Red Cross.
The European Union condemned the use of violence and detention of individuals who were exercising their basic right to peaceful demonstration. The international community must show solidarity with the Burmese people, and other people who are living in conditions in which human rights are not respected.
In Aung San Suu Kyi own words, “We want to empower our people; we want to strengthen them; we want to provide them with the kind of qualifications that will enable them to build up their own country themselves”. The time has come for the international community to invest in this country’s future, and grant the rule of democracy and freedom of expression to these people.
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David Casa is a Nationalist MEP and forms part of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament