MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

25.9.2007

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Geoffrey Van Orden, Hartmut Nassauer, Nirj Deva, Bernd Posselt and Colm Burke
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on Burma

B6‑0371/2007

European Parliament resolution on Burma

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on Burma, particularly that of 6 September 2007,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks has led a massive wave of peaceful demonstrations against the repressive military junta in Burma and demanded freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners,

B.  whereas the demonstrations have continued to grow in spite of arrests and fears of a violent reaction by government forces,

C.  having regard to the appeal of 23 September 2007 by the Dalai Lama, in which he urged the Burmese authorities to avoid violence toward his fellow Buddhist monks and other protestors,

D.  whereas, on 20 September, the situation in Burma was only briefly discussed in the UN Security Council,

1.  Applauds the courageous action of the Burmese monks and tens of thousands of other peaceful demonstrators in confronting the anti-democratic and repressive regime in Burma;

2.  Reiterates its call for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi;

3.  Urges the authorities in Burma to avoid any violent response to the demonstrations, to ensure that there is no repeat of the appalling scenes of carnage witnessed by the world in 1988, but instead to recognise the legitimacy of the demands that are being made;

4.  Calls for cessation of the current illegitimate constitutional process, and its replacement by a fully representative National Convention including the NLD and other political parties and groups;

5.  Calls on the UN Security Council to address the situation in Burma as a matter of urgency and to empower the UN Secretary-General to take action in order to facilitate national reconciliation and a transition to democracy in Burma;

6.  Calls on the EU Council, as a matter of urgency, to liaise with the United States, ASEAN and other members of the international community in order to prepare a coordinated series of additional measures, including economic sanctions, that might be taken against the Burmese regime if it does not respond to the call for a return to democracy;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States, the governments of the ASEAN nations, the National League for Democracy, the State Peace and Development Council and the Secretary General of the United Nations.