MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

21.10.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Gintaras Didžiokas, Ryszard Czarnecki, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Wojciech Roszkowski, Ewa Tomaszewska, Adam Bielan
on behalf of the UEN Group
on human rights situation in Burma

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0554/2008

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0554/2008

European Parliament resolution on human rights situation in Burma

The European Parliament,

• -having regard to its previous resolutions on placeplaceBurma,
• -having regard to the Council Regulation (EC) No 194/2008 of 25 February 2008 renewing and strengthening the restrictive measures in respect to Burma and repealing Regulation (EC) No 817/2006,
• -having regard to the report of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma, Tomás Ojea Quintana, in accordance with paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 62/222, following his visit of 3-7 August 2008 to Burma,
• -having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
• A.whereas, as a placeMemberplace Stateplace of the United Nations, placeBurma is bound by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
• B.whereas the human rights situation in placeplaceBurma continues to be characterized by systematic violations of fundamental rights and freedoms of Burmese people, while ethnic minorities especially suffer from discrimination and forced displacements,
• C.whereas the Secretary General of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Nobel peace laureate Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for more than 12 of the past 18 years,
• D.whereas in August and September 2008 a number of political and civil activists were arrested, including Myint Aye, leader of the human Rights Defenders and Promoters Group, and Nilar Thein, a prominent leader of the 88 Generation Students Group,
• E.whereas, according to the latest report of the U.N. Special Rapporteur, there are over 2,000 political prisoners in placeplaceBurma;
• F.whereas only a small number of political prisoners, including U Win Tin, prominent political activist of NLD who had been imprisoned for 19 years, were released on 23 September 2008, following the Burmese authorities' amnesty for 9,002 prisoners,

1.  Strongly reiterates its demand to the Burmese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, as initial step in the national reconciliation process, to be followed by the release of all other political prisoners;

2.  Condemns the continuing arrests of human rights defenders and civil activists and ongoing practices of charging them with unrelated alleged offences and disrespect of basic guarantees, such as the right to counsel;

3.  Remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Burma; expresses its concern at the discrimination and violations suffered by ethnic minorities, especially in border and conflict areas, and attacks by military forces and non-State armed groups on villages in Karen State and other ethnic Burmese states, leading to extensive forced displacements;

4.  Notes the four human rights elements recommended by the U.N. Special Rapporteur to be implemented by the Burmese authorities, in particular, the review of national legislation in accordance with international obligations, release of political prisoners, reform of armed forces and reform of judiciary, which are indispensable for paving the road to democracy; resolves to closely monitor any steps to be undertaken by the authorities to implement them;

5.  Urges the Burmese authorities to re-engage with the International Committee of the Red Cross and to allow its staff unimpeded access to the detention centres and prisons, in accordance to its mandate; calls on the authorities to guarantee the physical integrity of all prisoners;

6.  Notes the establishment by the Burmese authorities of an "Investigation Body", chaired by the Minister for Home Affairs, to investigate the deaths, arrests and disappearances in connection with the repression of peaceful demonstrations of September 2007 by the security forces; regrets that no cases of identification or sanction of the personnel responsible has occurred so far; calls on the Burmese authorities to ensure a transparent investigation of the facts and punishment of those responsible;

7.  Urges the Burmese government to continue developing efforts to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone Nargis and to put in place mechanisms to aid the reunification of separated families and ensure protection of land rights of those forcibly displaced;

8.  Notes the Burmese authorities' intention to hold general elections in 2010; urges that free and open debate be allowed between all concerned parties prior to these multi-party elections in order to allow for true national reconciliation;

9.  Urges the Governments of China, India and Russia to use their considerable economic and political leverage with the Burmese authorities in order to bring about substantial improvements in the country and to cease the supply of weaponry and other strategic resources;

10.  Calls on the ASEAN countries with which placeplaceBurma enjoys close economic and political relations to put serious pressure on the Burmese authorities to bring about democratic change;

11.  Calls on the Council and the Member States to closely monitor and to ensure the effective application of the targeted sanctions;

12.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the ASEAN and ASEM member states, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur for placeplaceBurma.