Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 3rd December, had passed the following Notice of Motion:

      “This Council views with the deepest concern the unfolding events in Burma and salutes the courage of the Burmese people, especially Aung San Suu Kyi, in challenging the oppressive, corrupt and illegitimate military junta which has ruled Burma for decades.

      The people of Belfast have a tradition of supporting oppressed peoples and to that end this Council calls on the British and Irish governments to immediately impose the most stringent sanctions under the auspices of the United Nations.”

            The Committee was advised that correspondence had been received from the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Irish Government’s Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs outlining their positions and the actions which they had undertaken in relation to the events which were taking place currently in Burma.  Copies of the correspondence in this regard are set out hereunder:

Letter 1

      “Thank you for your letter of 19 December to the Foreign Secretary’s Office about the situation in Burma.  We have been asked to reply.

      We have strongly and repeatedly condemned the recent violent suppression of peaceful protests across Burma.  The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, and other Ministers, continue their efforts to ensure that the international community does not forget the people of Burma.

      We are alarmed by the reports of continuing persecution targeted at those who took part in the demonstrations.  We want the regime to end ongoing arrests, release all political prisoners and engage in a genuine process of reconciliation and a dialogue that is fully inclusive, not least of the ethnic groups.

      We are working to increase regional and international pressure on the regime while at the same time holding out the prospect of a better future for Burma should there be genuine moves towards political reconciliation, the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights.

      We are applying pressure firstly through the United Nations.  On 2 October, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution sponsored by the European Union, (EU) with the strong support of the UK, which expressed deep concern about the situation in Burma and requested that the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, be given immediate access.  Professor Pinheiro visited Burma from 11 to 15 November.  He met senior regime figures, and a number of political prisoners.

      Professor Pinheiro’s report to the Human Rights Council on 11 December highlights the gravity of the human rights situation in Burma.  It is evident that there are major concerns about abuses during the repression of the peaceful protests in September and October.

      We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s findings, and support the call for an early follow-up visit to take forward a more thorough investigation.  It is imperative he is given free and unhindered access to both people and areas across Burma.  We also support Professor Pinheiro’s recommendations and urge the Burmese government to fully co-operate with him to enable him to continue his much-needed work in the country.

      On 11 October, the UN sent a powerful signal that the international community would stand together in support of the Burmese people.  The UK helped to secure a unanimous statement by the Security Council which strongly deplored the use of violence against peaceful demonstrations, called for the release of all political prisoners and underlined the need for the Burmese government to establish a genuine dialogue with all concerned parties and ethnic groups.  This was the first formal action on Burma ever taken by the Security Council.  It had the support of all the members of the Security Council including, crucially, China, and represents a significant shift in the political situation from their previous position.

      The UN Secretary General’s envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, made his most recent visit to Burma from 3-8 November.  He met Aung San Suu Kyi, other National League for Democracy figures, representatives of ethnic groups as well as senior members of the regime and their proxy organisations.  Aung San Suu Kyi subsequently issued a statement through Professor Gambari reaffirming her willingness to engage in a dialogue with the regime and representatives of the ethnic groups.  We hope the regime seizes this opportunity to find a lasting settlement to the problems of Burma.

      We are also taking the lead in the EU.  We secured agreement to impose stronger restrictive measures against the regime.  On 15 October, European Foreign Ministers agreed to implement sanctions targeting business interests in those sectors from which the regime draws much of its revenue – timber, precious metals and gems.  The EU made clear that any decision on whether further measures are imposed will depend entirely on the regime’s willingness to allow genuine political progress in Burma.  The EU measures are focused on the generals and designed not to harm the Burmese people.

      As a third means of pressure, we continue to keep in close contact with partners in the region, including the Association of South East Asian Nations, (ASEAN) to build up constructive pressure on the Burmese government.  Ministers’ personal engagement with their counterparts in the region helped lay the foundation for a strongly worded statement by ASEAN on 27 September, in which they expressed their revulsion for the actions of the regime.

      We looked to the ASEAN and East Asia Summits in Singapore on 18-21 November to send a clear signal to the regime that their regional partners expected political transformation and national reconciliation.  In contacts with Foreign Ministers from across the region in the build up to the Summits, we underlined the importance we attached to this issue and Minister Meg Munn made these points personally when she met ASEAN Ministers (as well as Professor Gambari and the EU Special Envoy, Piero Fassimo) during the EU?ASEAN Summit on 22 November.  We welcome ASEAN’s reaffirmation of its support for the UN-led process, but were disappointed that Burmese objections prevented Professor Gambari from addressing the ASEAN Summit.  We continue to call on our ASEAN partners to play a leading role in promoting fundamental political change in their fellow member state, Burma.

      At the same time as applying this pressure on the regime, we have been clear that if a genuine political transformation gets under way, the international community should begin the work which will lead to substantial economic support for a new, democratic government of Burma.  The Prime Minister has written to the UN Secretary General and other key colleagues proposing support for a recovery plan for Burma, strictly conditional on demonstrable and irrevocable progress towards reconciliation and democracy.  The first meeting to discuss this initiative was held in Washington on 20 October.  We have also announced that we will be doubling the humanitarian aid to Burma from £9 million this year to £18 million by 2010-11.

      We have placed further information about Burma, as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights, on our website at www.fco.gov.uk.

Letter 2

      The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermott Ahern T.D., has asked me to thank you for informing us of the Notice of Motion passed by Belfast City Council regarding the situation in Burma.  The Minister welcomes the motion and has noted its contents.

      The Minister remains gravely concerned at the situation in Burma.  The priority, for a long-lasting and sustainable solution to the situation in Burma, remains the implementation of a sustainable, meaningful and inclusive political process leading to real democratisation and national reconciliation.  The main track to achieving this is the process initiated by the UN Secretary General and his Special Representative, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari.  The Government believes that the opportunity provided by this good offices mission must be seized by all sides.  The role of Burma’s neighbours in this is essential.

      The Government agrees that the situation in Burma, with implications for regional and international security, warrants broader and more concrete Security Council action, including sanctions.  Regrettably, there is insufficient consensus in favour of such action among Security Council members, though we do welcome the fact that the Council continues to be engaged on the issue.

      In the absence of UN sanctions, that would be legally binding internationally, Ireland has taken a strong position in favour of imposing, and extending, EU sanctions in Burma.

      Ireland, with our EU partners, applies a range of restrictive measures to Burma, referred to as the Common Position, since 1996.  The Common Position confirmed an arms embargo imposed in 1990.  Equally, GSP privileges were withdrawn in 1997 because of forced labour issues.  It also prohibits EU-registered companies from making financial loans or credits to named Burmese State?owned enterprise and from acquiring or extending a participation in such enterprises.

      On 19 November the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted further targeted measures on Burma: import, export and investment bans on equipment to the logs and timber and mining of metals, minerals precious and semi-precious stones sectors.  These clearly target the regime and seek to minimise the impact on the people of Burma.  Ireland also successfully sought to ensure the flexibility of the sanctions, which can be strengthened further if required.  A new comprehensive investment ban is being looked at in this context.  Ireland will continue to take a strong position in favour of extending further EU sanctions on Burma as the situation there requires.

      Ireland will continue to monitor developments in Burma very closely and to work with EU, the UN and the countries of Asia and to keep the focus of the world on the plight of the people of Burma.”

            The Committee noted the receipt of the correspondence.